Dodgers' $80 million free agent signing projection solves major need for L.A.

Billy Heyen

Dodgers' $80 million free agent signing projection solves major need for L.A. image

The Los Angeles Dodgers have almost everything.

But as free agency gets rolling, the rest of MLB recognizes that the Dodgers could use a closer, which would allow Roki Sasaki to comfortably move back to the starting rotation after a postseason cameo in the bullpen.

There are multiple closers available, including Edwin Diaz and Robert Suarez.

Suarez is the guy that The Athletic's Jim Bowden has projected in a new article to land with the Dodgers. He predicts a contract of five years and $80 million for Suarez to come to Hollywood.

"Suarez stays in the NL West and becomes the Dodgers’ closer with Roki Sasaki moving to the rotation," Bowden writes.

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It'd be a big swing in the NL West Division race, too.

Suarez has been ultra-reliable for the San Diego Padres in recent seasons.

Not only would the Dodgers solve their biggest need -- they'd weaken the Padres, who always seem to be hanging around as the largest opposition to the Dodgers' chances of winning their division.

There's been speculation that the Dodgers will also go after more hitting this offseason. They never seem content with what they've got, even in winning back-to-back World Series.

But it'd be a shock if the Dodgers didn't end up with a closer this winter. The only question really is who it'll be and how much it'll cost.

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Senior Editor