The Los Angeles Dodgers have not even thrown out the first pitch yet, but there are already links to a possible splash in the middle of the 2026 season.

The Dodgers committed more than $300 million in guaranteed money to stars Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, continuing their offseason spending spree over the last few years.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has been known to prioritize free-agent spending to avoid being leveraged in trade negotiations or operating out of a sense of desperation.

Instead, the Dodgers field as strong a roster as possible, then make calculated additions on the margins where needed, as in 2025 with Brock Stewart.

While this approach has gotten the Dodgers back-to-back World Series titles, a third straight title may require a more aggressive approach.

The Athletic’s Katie Woo believes the Dodgers will make a serious move at the deadline.

“For as grand as the team’s offseasons have been lately, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has taken a more modest approach at the trade deadline,” Woo wrote.

“When it comes to their player development pipeline, the Dodgers are typically risk-averse. But this is one of the few organizations with a farm system deep enough to swing a major trade — and this summer might be the time to let it rip.

“With the sport likely headed toward a work stoppage in December, there’s no guarantee baseball’s landscape will remain the same under a new collective bargaining agreement. The Dodgers have capitalized on the current CBA to a historic extent.

“If Los Angeles finds itself looking to add at the deadline (as all contenders do), a blockbuster trade could be in play.”

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Potential trade targets

Nitpicking the Dodgers roster does leave two possible areas of improvement — the bullpen or the infield.

The Dodgers have a great future outlook in the outfield, with ready-made talent that makes it a strength. However, the infield is aging with each passing season, and if an injury occurs, the front office may look to make a move.

Additionally, the bullpen is improved, though it relies on bounce-back players and emerging young arms to take the mantle.

There are always high-leverage arms available, either as starters or relievers, and teams rarely complain about having an excess of options.