The Los Angeles Dodgers were exposed this postseason after the Arizona Diamondbacks abused a hole in its pitching department.
Naturally, that's the gap the team wants to fill next season.
Two-way generational player Shohei Ohtani is on top of the list for the Dodgers.
However, the Los Angeles Angels star is not expected to pitch next season after undergoing Tommy John surgery, leaving the Dodgers in a conundrum.
If they want to sign Ohtani, who wouldn't be allowed to throw the ball from the mound, the pitching crew will remain weak.
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MLB insider Alden Gonzalez of ESPN.com shared that the Dodgers have made it known that the Japanese All-Star is their priority. However, they may need to step back because of his injury.
"There are legitimate concerns about how long he'll continue to hold up as a two-way player. The Dodgers, as we've seen in these playoffs, desperately need starting pitching. In other words, Ohtani won't be enough," Gonzalez wrote.
Dodgers president takes blame for failed season
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said they want to collect more talented players to answer what they lacked in the 2023 season. He also took the blame for the failed season, saying his office did not do a good job.
"We're just looking to get as many talented players as we can, to be aggressive and put the best team on the field that we can."
Ohtani is a pricey target, but the Dodgers are reportedly willing to break the bank for him.
A business writer revealed that Ohtani deserves to get paid roughly $700 million based on his calculations using 2023 pricing, which is 5 percent higher than in 2021.
If the Dodgers sign him for that amount, how much will be left for a starting pitcher?
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