Dodgers face roster decisions after NLCS sweep by Brewers

Los Angeles Dodgers ended their season on Thursday with a 4-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, concluding a run of eight straight postseason series victories that began in 2024. The defeat highlighted concerns about the age and health of the team's core, which includes Will Smith (31), Shohei Ohtani (32), Mookie Betts and Teoscar Hernández (both 34) and Freddie Freeman (37).

The club retains significant financial resources and a pool of tradeable prospects, positioning it to remain competitive for the 2027 season, but several roster questions have emerged.

"It's hard to tell" if he will need surgery, Ohtani said through an interpreter after the loss, adding that he intends to pitch next season.

Ohtani missed the second half of the season due to knee and biceps injuries, did not pitch after early July and saw a decline in power hitting. The Dodgers must decide whether offseason surgery is required and how any recovery period could affect his availability for 2027, especially given a likely lockout once the collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.

The organization is also evaluating the future of veteran position players. While the core of Betts, Freeman, Ohtani, Smith and Kyle Tucker is expected to stay, the team may consider moving on from players such as Teoscar Hernández, whose contract enters its final year, and Enrique Hernández, whose recent postseason production has declined. Potential replacements include younger outfield talent like Josue De Paula.

In the bullpen, the Dodgers could explore younger arms as free agents Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia have struggled with health and performance, and the club has several promising pitchers in Triple-A.

Regarding the rotation, the Dodgers acquired right-hander Tarik Skubal at the trade deadline. While the team has the financial capacity to re-sign him, the decision will depend on overall payroll strategy, competitive balance tax considerations and the availability of other starters such as Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and emerging pitchers Emmet Sheehan and Justin Wrobleski. Skubal declined to comment on his free-agency plans after the Game 4 loss.

Analysts note that the Dodgers remain one of baseball’s strongest teams despite the recent postseason setback, and their offseason moves will shape whether they can return to the World Series in the coming years.