Dodgers make clear statement about their offseason plans

Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the most active teams of the offseason, but general manager Brandon Gomes made it very clear Monday that they are not finished yet.

Gomes said the Dodgers are still firmly in the market for starting pitching, even though they traded for Tyler Glasnow already. Gomes characterized that as a “one-for-one swap,” since the Dodgers gave up a potential rotation piece in Ryan Pepiot to get the deal done.

GM Brandon Gomes said since the Glasnow trade was "a one-for-one swap" with a starting pitching going each way, the #Dodgers are "still looking to add talent" in starting pitching.

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) December 18, 2023

The Dodgers clearly do not want to simply trade pitching for better pitching. Depth seems to be a key focus as well, either by trading from their pool of position players or signing pieces as free agents. They are viewed as among the favorites to land Japanese phenom Yoshinobu Yamamoto, for instance.

The focus on pitching makes complete sense. The cupboard was bare for the Dodgers once the playoffs hit in 2023, and even if Clayton Kershaw opts to return, he cannot be relied upon to pitch a full season. That will prompt the team to be very aggressive.