The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2026 postseason carrying the weight of recent dominance, only to watch it slip away against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series.
A season that once promised another deep October run instead ended short of the World Series, prompting immediate questions about roster construction ahead of an offseason clouded by a potential work stoppage.
With free agency and trade markets still available before any lockout freezes activity, the club’s front office faces pressure to reinforce a rotation that, while talented, proved vulnerable when the games mattered most.
In a recent examination of potential moves, Jake Elman of FanSided highlighted Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom as one realistic target capable of stabilizing the staff without requiring a full rebuild of the farm system.
Elman noted that deGrom, who signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers back in December 2022, is owed a guaranteed $37 million in 2027 with a $20 million club option for 2028.
He observed that the right-hander invoked his no-trade clause during the summer, blocking a potential deal with the Atlanta Braves that instead saw Atlanta acquire Tyler Mahle.
Whether that refusal reflected a broader opposition to any relocation or simply discomfort with one specific destination remains unclear, but the uncertainty shapes the entire conversation.
At 38, deGrom no longer profiles as the ace who once dominated the National League, yet his 2026 campaign offered evidence of remaining value.
He posted an 11-11 record with a 4.20 ERA across 162.2 innings while striking out 201 batters and compiling a 3.11 FIP, numbers that suggest underlying skill still exceeds the surface results.
Elman argued that this version of deGrom fits best as a third or fourth starter in Los Angeles, ranking him ahead of Justin Wrobleski on the internal depth chart.
The appeal lies in the possibility of capturing the sharper form he showed later in the season, when his stuff played up and his command tightened enough to limit damage.
Acquiring him would not transform the Dodgers into an unbeatable machine overnight, but it would add a proven arm with postseason experience and the capacity to absorb innings behind the club’s established front-line options.
The financial commitment is substantial for a pitcher entering his late thirties, and any deal would still hinge on deGrom’s willingness to waive his no-trade protection.
For a franchise that just watched a promising October end prematurely, however, the chance to insert a two-time Cy Young winner into the middle of the rotation represents the kind of calculated reinforcement that could extend the competitive window rather than simply maintain it.
We’ll see if the Dodgers try to make a move.
