The Los Angeles Dodgers 2014 season ended in disappointment as they got knocked out of the playoffs for the second straight year by the St. Louis Cardinals -- this time in the NLDS losing the series 3-1. The Dodgers had World Series aspirations this year, it was championship or bust for them this season. With the club's payroll exceeding $240 million entering this season -- the highest in American sports history -- falling two series wins short of their goal was a huge letdown. Here are five things the Dodgers need to address this off-season if they want to reach the World Series next year.
Bullpen
The Dodgers bullpen was a disaster this season. Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti knew that the bullpen was suspect and needed to be improved back in July. He was trying to make a deal to strengthen the bullpen, but he couldn't get a deal done before the trade deadline. The Dodgers tried to get away with it but unfortunately it came back to bite them in the playoffs. Closer Kenley Jansen was the only reliable bullpen arm Don Mattingly could count on in the end. Brain Wilson (who just picked up his $9.5 million player option for next season) was a huge disappointment this year as the setup man for Jansen. The former All-Star closer lost his velocity as he struggled to consistently throw 90 mph all year long. J.P. Howell was nearly unhittable for five months but struggled in September and fell apart in the playoffs. The Dodgers have invested most of their money into the starting rotation over the past few years. It's tough to build a bullpen through costless agency. Most of the time front offices would rather spend money on a top of the rotation starter instead of two or three relievers. Usually, the best way to build a bullpen is through the farm system, but the Dodgers don't have any top prospect relievers right now in the minors. They must improve their bullpen next season if they want to get further in the postseason.
Outfield
The Dodgers have to address their outfield situation this off-season. They obviously can't go another year with an influx of outfielders. They have six major league outfielders for three different positions: Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, Scott Van Slyke and top outfield prospect Joc Pederson. At least two of these players have to go. Andre Ethier's time could be done in Los Angeles. He lost his starting role and was relegated to pinch hitting duties by the end of the season. Due to Either's contract and lack of production this season, it will be hard for the Dodgers to trade him and get anything of significant value in return. The Dodgers are almost certainly going to have to take some of the money in that contract in a trade. Carl Crawford is someone else the Dodgers can look to trade. He showed he's still has good baseball left in him as he was one of the hottest hitters in the league over the last two months, but he's getting older and because of his contract the Dodgers would also probably have to take back some of that money in a trade. Matt Kemp had a strong second half of the season and looks like he's back to being the MVP caliber player he was in 2011. Finally healthy, he could be poised to have a monster season next year. Scott Van Slyke was someone who was very productive in limited playing time and has really good power. Puig is extremely talented, but the Dodgers may be running out of patience with him as he still has a lot of maturing to do as a player. Joc Pederson is someone the Dodgers have to make a decision on, he is no longer a minor league player. The MVP of the PCL league had a 30-30 season -- the first one in 80 years. The Dodgers are either going to have to play him or use him as a trading piece because he is such a talent as a top prospect the Dodgers can get a lot in return for him if they did choose to trade him.
Starting Rotation Depth
One of the Dodgers problems this year was how much they relied on the top of their rotation. When they're on, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke are the best 1-2 punch in baseball. However, the Dodgers need some depth behind them. With Josh Beckett recently announcing his retirement the Dodgers now have a hole to fill in the rotation. Hyun-Jin Ryu is solid as a No. 3 starter, but he dealt with some injuries last year that forced him to spend two stints on the DL with shoulder inflammation. Dan Haren who is in line for a $10 million vesting player option hasn't announced if he's going to come back yet. The Dodgers could go after top costless agents like Max Scherzer, Jon Lester or James Shields, but their demanding price might be too high even for the Dodgers right now. The Dodgers don't necessarily need another ace the caliber of those pitchers, but they need some depth in the middle of their rotation so they are not so dependable on Kershaw and Greinke.
Hanley Ramirez
Hanley Ramirez will be a costless agent this off-season and the Dodgers need to make a decision on him. Hanley Ramirez is a really good player, but he's prone to injury and below average defense at SS makes it difficult to bring him back on a long-term basis. If the Dodgers choose to not bring him back they have other options at short. Alex Guerrero the Cuban infielder they signed last season who was supposed to be their starting second baseman this year until Dee Gordon won the job in spring training and had a breakout year. Guerrero played second base in the minors for the Dodgers this year, but he was a shortstop in Cuba. Corey Seager the Dodgers top prospect has enormous potential, but he's still probably another year away from contributing as an everyday player at the major league level. The Dodgers are expected to give Ramirez a qualifying offer that would net them a compensation draft pick if he rejects and signs elsewhere. What the Dodgers could do is sign Hanley to a 3-year deal only if he agrees to move to third base after the 2015 season after Juan Uribe contract expires. However, chances are Hanley Ramirez time with the Dodgers is finished. If Hanley doesn't return they are going to have a huge hole in the middle of the order they are going to have to replace.
Don Mattingly/Ned Colletti
Don Mattingly has improved the Dodgers record every season he's been their manager, but when expectations are championship or bust and you fall short two years in a row then questions are going to be asked if you're the right man for the job. Mattingly did a great job managing the Dodgers during the regular season, but his playoff decisions over the last two seasons have been questionable. It's not all Mattingly's fault though, after all it's the players that have to get the job done on the field and Mattingly had to work with the roster he had. It's not his fault he had no bullpen he could count on. Ned Colletti has to get some blame here as the general manager for not being able to put together a better bullpen. Colletti has made a lot of big moves over the last few years, but it still hasn't translated to postseason success. Usually, when a disappointment like this happens in sports there are some changes in management. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the Dodgers this winter.