NL West

Carlos Rodón's time in the Bay Area has potentially come to an end after one season.

According to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area, Rodón declined the $22.5 million option on his contract Sunday to remain with the San Francisco Giants. He had signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the Giants this past offseason after spending the first seven years of his career with the Chicago White Sox and emerged as one of the better free-agent signings of 2022.

Rodón earned his second successive All-Star selection as a replacement for reliever Josh Hader, but he didn't pitch in the game. In 31 starts last season, he finished with a 14-8 record with a 2.88 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 237 strikeouts.

The third overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft, Rodón made his major-league debut the following year for the White Sox. After a strong rookie season in which he notched a 3.75 ERA with 139 strikeouts, Rodón's career took a turn as he finished with an ERA above 4.00 in each of the next five years from 2016 to 2020.

Rodón underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2019. He was limited to four appearances in 2020 and went 0-2 with an 8.22 ERA.

The 2021 season was a bounce-back year for Rodón, as he went 13-5 in 24 starts and notched a 2.37 ERA, a 0.96 WHIP and 185 strikeouts. He proved that season wasn't a fluke with his strong performance this past year.

Rodón declining to stay in San Francisco for another year is a significant loss for the Giants, as they are losing a No. 1 starter atop their rotation. The team will be in search of a new face of its pitching staff in 2023 if it decides against negotiating with Rodón for a long-term contract.

Veteran third baseman Justin Turner is a native of Long Beach, California, and playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers for the last nine seasons gave him the opportunity to give back to his hometown.

For his efforts this year, Turner has been named the recipient of the Roberto Clemente Award, which honors players for their philanthropic efforts, per ESPN's Aiden Gonzalez.

Turner will be honored alongside the Clemente family and MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred prior to Monday's World Series Game 3 between the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.

Turner has been the Dodgers' nominee for the award in five of the last six seasons. He is the third member of the franchise to win the award, joining Steve Garvey in 1981 and Clayton Kershaw in 2012.

The 37-year-old signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in 2014 after stints with the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets. His career blossomed in Los Angeles, as he went on to become a two-time All-Star and helped lead the team to a World Series championship in 2020.

After joining the Dodgers, Turner founded the Justin Turner Foundation alongside his wife Kourtney in 2016. Per Gonzalez, the foundation aims to "support homeless veterans, children and families battling life-altering diseases and illnesses."

Turner has also been actively involved with the Dream Center, which is "an L.A.-based resource center focused on supporting the homeless through community outreach programs." He also sits on the board of directors for Children's Hospital Los Angeles, to which he and Kourtney have donated over $100,000. They've also provided 70,000 toys and 14,000 bicycles to Los Angeles children, per Gonzalez.

"Everything in my life really feels like it has taken off since the day I put the Dodger uniform on," Turner said. "Obviously, it's very special to me, growing up in Southern California, getting to wear that jersey and getting to be a part of an organization that has so much history and has so many people who have impacted the game in so many different ways. I'm just trying to do my little part."

In 2019, Jan. 22 was declared "Justin Turner Day" in Los Angeles by the city council in recognition of his impact on the community. The Dodgers have not yet announced if they will exercise the $16 million club option for 2023, but he said he will continue his philanthropic efforts even after he departs the franchise, whenever that may be.

"I think that's something that will always be part of Kourtney and I's DNA," Turner said. "Obviously, we don't know what it will look like when eventually I am done playing, and when the events come together and what's going to happen on that front. But I think it's something that we will always continue and always be giving back to help people in need."

If they are unable to retain Trea Turner, the Los Angeles Dodgers reportedly have interest in pursuing shortstop Carlos Correa in free agency.

Regarding Correa, Jon Heyman of the New York Post noted that the Dodgers "love everything he brings" to the table and view him as a solid "1A" option if Turner signs elsewhere.

Heyman noted that while the Dodgers have interest in re-signing Turner, they believe he prefers to play closer to the east coast, which may make it difficult to compete with other parties rumored to be interested in him, such as the Atlanta Braves, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals.

Last offseason, Correa was part of a stacked free-agent class for shortstops, but he waited to sign until after the lockout, which may have negatively impacted the contract he received.

He ultimately settled on a three-year, $105.3 million contract with the Minnesota Twins, but the caveat was that he could choose to opt out after the first season.

Per MLB.com's Brian Murphy, Correa indicated at the end of the regular season that he planned to opt out, calling the decision "very simple."

The 28-year-old Correa is an eight-year MLB veteran who spent his first seven seasons with the Houston Astros before signing with the Twins.

Correa, who went No. 1 overall in the 2012 MLB draft, was a two-time All-Star in Houston and helped the Astros win the 2017 World Series.

In his one season with the Twins, Correa hit .291 with a .366 on-base percentage, both of which were the second-best marks of his career. He also clubbed 22 home runs, drove in 64 runners and scored 70 runs despite missing 26 games.

Along with Turner and Correa, shortstops Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson are set to hit the open market as well, meaning the Dodgers and other shortstop-needy teams will have no shortage of options.

At 111-51, the Dodgers had the best record in baseball this season by far, and they were heavily favored to win the World Series.

They were shocked by the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series, though, leaving them to pick up the pieces and figure out the right mix for playoff success next season.

Since Correa is a career .272 hitter with 18 homers and 59 RBI in 79 career postseason games, he would seemingly be an ideal fit in L.A. if Turner is no longer an option.

The playoffs are over for the New York Yankees, who were swept by the Houston Astros in the ALCS. The Los Angeles Dodgers didn't even make it that far, falling in a 3-1 series to the San Diego Padres in the divisional round.

There will be no World Series between the Yankees and the Dodgers this year, but the two high-profile franchises may soon face off in a different arena. Both teams may be heavy bidders for star outfielder Aaron Judge.

Judge had a historic season for the Yankees in 2022, finishing with an AL record 62 home runs and arguably the biggest profile in baseball. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported last month that "most" believe that Judge will re-sign with the Yankees as a free agent this offseason.

However, L.A. is emerging as a serious threat to sign him away. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Dodgers are considering a run at Judge and a move of star outfielder Mookie Betts to second base.

"According to sources, the Dodgers could become serious players in this offseason’s Aaron Judge sweepstakes, a move that would potentially result in a position change for Betts, a six-time All-Star outfielder," Feinsand wrote.

This is far from the worst idea for the Dodgers, and there are a few reasons why it would make sense. Perhaps the biggest is that Betts is open to the position change.

"Being able to play second base is kind of something I've been doing my whole life,” Betts said in September, per Feinsand. "Getting to go back there is just a lot of fun for me, personally. I really, really do enjoy it, but they pay me to catch these fly balls."

The Dodgers will be happy to pay Betts to do something else if it means adding the slugging power of Judge. Los Angeles ranked fifth in the regular season with 212 home runs, but Judge is a difference-maker at the plate.

Of course, adding Judge won't be cheap.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel polled 14 anonymous MLB executives, agents and insiders on what Judge's next contract might look like.

The predictions averaged out to 8.6 years and just below $320 million. With that sort of investment in Judge, the Dodgers will almost certainly have to part with star shortstop and impending free agent Treat Turner. The thing is, that might happen anyway.

According to The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya, the two-time All-Star did not progress in extension talks with the Dodgers at all this season:

"The Dodgers broached the idea of a long-term future with Turner’s team over the winter but didn’t get into specifics. Turner told them he was willing to have talks until the start of the regular season. The Dodgers informed Turner shortly before the start of the year they wouldn’t make him a formal offer, and there haven’t been any discussions between the two sides about an extension since."

There's a real chance that Turner departs whether or not the Dodgers pursue Judge. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to at least see if the 30-year-old home-run king can be had.

Another factor to consider is that L.A.'s roster simply wasn't enough to go deep into the postseason. The Dodgers were ousted by the Padres, who in turn lost a 3-1 series to the Philadelphia Phillies. This marked the second straight year in which L.A. finished earlier in the postseason than the previous season.

After winning the World Series in 2020, the Dodgers lost in the NLCS to the Atlanta Braves in 2021. If that trend continues, it's hard to see L.A. making a big postseason jump with its current roster.

Yes, this is a roster that won 111 games in the regular season. However, spending to re-sign the likes of Turner, Craig Kimbrel and Joey Gallo won't ensure that Los Angeles is more of a title contender next year.

Simply put, it may be time to shake things up a bit. Adding Judge would certainly do that while boosting the Dodgers' bottom line.

Fans care far more about how a team performs than ticket and merchandise sales. However, business management has at least one eye on potential revenue.

Judge, who grew up in California, would generate a buzz in L.A. that perhaps no other star could. That excitement would be great for the Dodgers and for baseball. If Judge does leave New York, you can bet that MLB would prefer that he land in another large market.

Of course, there is a price point at which adding Judge wouldn't make sense for L.A. His power and profile weren't enough to get the Yankees into the October Classic, and the Dodgers can't justify completely tearing down their roster to accommodate him.

However, it's worth making a serious run at Judge, even if the end result is forcing a potential playoff foe like the San Francisco Giants to overpay.

According to Randy Miller of NJ Advanced Media, the Giants are all-in on acquiring Judge too.

"The Giants have targeted Judge and are prepared to spend whatever it takes, a person with knowledge of the Giants’ thinking told NJ Advance Media after meeting with members of the franchise’s ownership group," Miller wrote.

This may be the biggest reason why a Judge pursuit makes sense for the Dodgers. They potentially have a chance to steal him from a division rival or drive up the price point.

And if L.A. can land Judge, it will at least have a chance to re-emerge as the best team in baseball in 2023.

If Aaron Judge makes his free agency decision based solely on money, he may end up on the San Francisco Giants.

Randy Miller of NJ.com reported Tuesday that the National League West team is "prepared to spend whatever it takes" to land the New York Yankees star.

“Judge is at the top of the Giants list and they won't be underbid," a person familiar with the team's approach said. "If they miss out, it won't be because of money."

It's going to cost a lot of that money.

Miller suggested the pursuit of Judge could become "a bidding war that figures to surpass $300 million" with the Los Angeles Dodgers expected to be involved and Yankees general manager Brian Cashman saying the plan is to make him an offer far above the seven-year, $213.5 million one he turned down in April.

Yet the Giants could have more than just the financial angle working in their favor.

Judge grew up a San Francisco fan in the Northern California town of Linden, where his parents and in-laws still live. Signing with the Giants would be something of a homecoming, and someone close to him even said "it's going to be looking good next season for the orange and black."

It should come as no surprise that San Francisco wants to make a major move this offseason.

After all, it competes in the NL West with the loaded Dodgers and San Diego Padres, who both made the playoffs this past season while it finished in third place at 81-81. This is a franchise accustomed to competing for titles after taking home the World Series championship in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

It came close last season with 107 wins just to lose in the Division Series, and Judge is someone who could help it return to the playoffs.

He is coming off one of the best seasons in MLB history with a .311/.425/.686 slash line, 62 home runs and 131 RBI and is still in his prime at 30 years old. He is missing a World Series crown from his resume, and he may be chasing it in a new league next season.

The Los Angeles Dodgers "could become serious players" in the pursuit of Aaron Judge in MLB free agency, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Feinsand reported the Dodgers would potentially shift Mookie Betts, their everyday right fielder, to second base to accommodate the New York Yankees slugger.

Feinsand added L.A. could decline to make a run at re-signing Trea Turner with an eye toward landing the biggest fish on the market.

The Dodgers have rarely rested on their laurels since their run of 10 straight playoff appearances began in 2013. Each of the last three offseasons has seen them make at least one significant addition to the roster as well.

Los Angeles acquired Betts from the Boston Red Sox in 2020 and then signed Trevor Bauer and Freddie Freeman in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Bringing Judge aboard would certainly carry on the trend.

To the extent finances matter for a franchise that routinely carries one of MLB's highest payrolls, the Dodgers are poised to have some flexibility this winter as well.

Turner, David Price, Craig Kimbrel and Joey Gallo combined to earn $79.3 million in 2022 and will be coming off the books. Cody Bellinger, whom MLB Trade Rumors' Steve Adams projected to get $18.1 million in arbitration, could be jettisoned.

Even if the team retains impending free agents Clayton Kershaw, Andrew Heaney and Tyler Anderson and picks up Justin Turner's $16 million option, the outgoing salaries and savings are more than enough to cover whatever Judge would make on his contract.

If Judge played for any other team, then the Dodgers would arguably be the favorites to get his signature.

Somewhat concerningly for Yankees fans, SNY's Andy Martino reported Monday that Judge's "intentions remain just as mysterious to the organization as they do to the fanbase" and that the Bronx Bombers "have no idea if he wants to be here."

The tangible impact of losing the presumptive American League MVP is obvious. There's also the symbolic hit of getting outbid for your best player by a more monied team. Imagine how the fanbase and New York media would react if Judge were to sign with the Dodgers or—even more chaotically—the New York Mets.

As much as the Dodgers might covet the four-time All-Star, it's hard to picture him in anything other than pinstripes next season.

The San Diego Padres were eliminated from the 2022 postseason on Sunday with a 4-3 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park, and manager Bob Melvin has had to defend his controversial call at the end of the game.

After Bryce Harper put the Phillies on top in the bottom of the eighth inning with a two-run home run, the Padres came up to bat in the top of the ninth down a run.

Phillies reliever David Robertson struck out Wil Myers before walking the next two batters. Robertson was replaced by Ranger Suárez, as Trent Grisham stepped up to the dish with the chance to put the Padres back on top.

Instead of trying to get a hit, Grisham bunted—putting both runners in scoring position—and was the second out of the inning. Austin Nola then hit a fly ball to right field for the third and final out.

Melvin defended his decision to have Grisham bunt:

Regarding Grisham’s bunt, Melvin said it was supposed to be something of a hybrid between a bunt for a hit and a sacrifice. They’d noticed 1B playing back, and with the wet grass, felt they could capitalize.

— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 23, 2022

In addition to Melvin's controversial bunt call, he also opted not to deploy star reliever Josh Hader in the bottom of the eighth inning, instead leaving Robert Suarez in for his second inning of work.

It's hard to believe Melvin didn't use his prized trade-deadline acquisition with the team's season on the line, as doing so could have sent the series back to San Diego for Game 6.

The Padres won just one game against the Phillies—an 8-5 victory in Game 2 at Petco Park. The team is now left with a number of questions to answer, one of which should be what else it needs to do to truly field a contending team.

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell short of their championship-or-bust expectations during the 2022 season, but they reportedly have no plans to change their manager ahead of the 2023 campaign.

According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, "Dave Roberts is expected to return" for what will be the first year of the three-year contract extension he agreed to in March.

Harris pointed out the Dodgers are facing a number of potential decisions this offseason, so having some stability at manager is at least one less thing to worry about.

Justin Turner has a club option on his contract, Cody Bellinger could be headed to arbitration, and stars such as Trea Turner and Clayton Kershaw could hit the open market as unrestricted free agents.

As for Roberts, it is impossible to classify his tenure with the Dodgers as anything other than a success even if an early playoff loss could open him up to criticism.

In seven seasons he has a 653-380 record with seven playoff appearances. The Dodgers won the 2020 World Series title under his direction, breaking a championship drought that dated back to the 1988 season.

It also helped break a run of recent playoff failures, as Los Angeles has made the postseason every year since 2013 only to fall short of lifting the trophy each time until the shortened 2020 campaign.

The Dodgers lost the 2017 and 2018 World Series during that time, underscoring just how close they consistently came in October until winning the title.

There will be some lingering disappointment for the fanbase after watching the 2022 team win a franchise-record 111 games just to lose its first playoff series in four games to the National League West rival San Diego Padres.

Perhaps that will inspire a new round of major free-agent signings as Los Angeles looks to keep its position near the top of the baseball world. But it apparently will not lead to a change at the managerial position.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' historic regular season ended with an equally historic playoff flop.

The San Diego Padres scored five runs in the seventh inning to rally from a three-run deficit, earning a 5-3 win over the Dodgers to advance to the National League Championship Series.

Following one of the greatest regular seasons in modern baseball history, the Dodgers will again leave the playoffs empty-handed. While they won a title during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers have failed in nine of the last 10 postseasons despite being the most consistently dominant team in baseball.

You might say these Dodgers are developing a bit of a reputation.

It has to be said

The 2022 Dodgers are the biggest failure in the history of baseball

111 wins

Best run differential since 1939

Biggest wins differential in playoff matchup (22) since 1906

1-0 series lead, followed by 3 straight losses

Didn’t even make it to the NLCS

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) October 16, 2022

Dodgers watching their 110+ win season fall short 😬 @BRWalkoff https://t.co/ATF4aYEqoC

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 16, 2022

The Dodgers won all six series vs. the Padres in the regular season.

Tonight marks the first time that a team lost a playoff series to a divisional opponent after not losing a series to them in the regular season. pic.twitter.com/8w5mFcJGKI

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 16, 2022

The Padres won 22 fewer regular-season games than the Dodgers, and won the NLDS over LA

THAT'S THE 2ND-LARGEST REGULAR-SEASON WINS UPSET IN A POSTSEASON SERIES

Only team to win a postseason series with a larger RS-wins upset:

1906 WS: White Sox (23 fewer RS wins) over Cubs

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) October 16, 2022

THE 2022 LOS ANGELES DODGERS HAVE THE MOST REGULAR SEASON WINS OF ANY TEAM TO LOSE IN THE FIRST ROUND. pic.twitter.com/KZV8fOZWzf

— Brennan 🍉 (@BayAreaBrennan) October 16, 2022

Current Mood... #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/qwT982Fs5a

— Mark Brockett (@Tuff_Overlord) October 16, 2022

“We are winning the World Series this year. Put it on record.” - Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

😬 😬 😬

pic.twitter.com/ALxbQslms5

— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) October 16, 2022

If there was an award for wasting 7 months of our lives you guys would win it ever year

— YBG Derwin (@BoltUpDerwin) October 16, 2022

The Dodgers tonight: pic.twitter.com/l1qVIfsmtU

— Crown (@thecardiocrown) October 16, 2022

Dodgers really won 110+ games, said they were the real deal, had a FIRST ROUND BYE, played their LITTLE BROTHER from San Diego, just to prove that they can only win a World Series by having a shortened season pic.twitter.com/erqJuZ7eQy

— astrosmemes (@astrosmemes_) October 16, 2022

Dodgers every year be like: pic.twitter.com/k5ouzpub4g

— GiantsMuse (@SFGiantsMuse) October 16, 2022

The Dodgers' 111 regular-season wins are tied for the fourth most in MLB history, but perhaps we should have seen this coming. Of the five teams with the best regular seasons in baseball history, only one (1998 New York Yankees) went on to win the World Series.

The Dodgers are, however, the first of those teams to not reach at least their LCS.

It's a historic collapse of epic proportions, with seemingly no positive spin to be found.

Trea Turner, Clayton Kershaw and Andrew Heaney are all free agents this offseason and are no lock to be back. Turner is one of the biggest names on the market and will almost certainly command a deal guaranteeing him at least $300 million. Kershaw and Heaney face injury questions but were wildly effective in 2022.

There may never be a Dodgers roster this loaded again in the history of the franchise, and it was all for nothing. It's a bitter pill to swallow heading into an uncertain winter.

The New York Mets couldn't touch San Diego Padres starter Joe Musgrove on Sunday night, managing just one walk and a hit against him in seven innings en route to a 6-0 loss that ended their season.

So they resorted to last-gasp tactics, asking the umpires to do a substance check on Musgrove's...ears.

Mets manager Buck Showalter called for a substance check on Joe Musgrove.

The umpires looked at Musgrove's hand, glove, hat and ears.

They found nothing and Musgrove remained in the game. pic.twitter.com/UVyzzuTK3T

— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2022

Musgrove didn't really blame them.

"I get it, dude," he said on ESPN after the game (h/t Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times.) "They're on their last leg. They're desperate."

Showalter explained his side of the situation after the game:

Buck Showalter talks about having the umpires check Jose Musgrove for substances:

"I'm charged with doing what's best for the New York Mets. However it might make me look, I'm going to do that every time and live with the consequences." pic.twitter.com/CzjSz9b8Qm

— SNY (@SNYtv) October 10, 2022

There was a point this season when the Mets looked like legitimate World Series contenders. At the very least, they seemed poised to win the NL East before the Atlanta Braves ran them down late in the year.

To go from those heights to examining an opposing player's ears during a Wild Card elimination game in which they only managed one hit is one tough pill to swallow.