In the world of Major League Baseball, there are contenders, there are champions, and then there is the machine currently operating out of Chavez Ravine. On the heels of securing back-to-back World Series titles in 2024 and 2025, the Los Angeles Dodgers have effectively declared war on the concept of complacency. The organization has already made the splashiest moves of the winter by signing closer Edwin Diaz and outfielder Kyle Tucker, but these acquisitions have created a new problem: a roster crunch. With the 40-man roster at full capacity, the Dodgers are now forced to make difficult decisions, placing two talented players on the trade block to clear space for their newest superstar.

The primary name circulating in trade talks is right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller. Once viewed as a future ace of the staff, Miller’s tenure in Los Angeles has been a rollercoaster of high potential and frustrating inconsistency. Reports from insiders, including Ken Rosenthal, suggest that the Dodgers are ready to move on, viewing Miller as a “disappointment” who may benefit from a change of scenery. For a team with championship aspirations, there is little patience for development at the major league level. Miller’s electric arm remains a tantalizing asset for rebuilding teams, and trading him now could allow the Dodgers to replenish a farm system that has been taxed by the forfeiture of draft picks attached to their recent qualifying offer signings.

Joining Miller on the block is Ryan Ward, a prolific slugger who was named the MVP of the Pacific Coast League last season. Ward is a classic case of a player blocked by a “super team.” In almost any other organization, his left-handed power would be anchoring a lineup. In Los Angeles, he is buried behind a depth chart that reads like an All-Star team. With Kyle Tucker now cementing himself as the everyday right fielder and Andy Pages showing defensive improvements in center, there is simply no path for Ward to get the everyday at-bats he needs. A trade seems inevitable and mutually beneficial, giving Ward a chance to shine elsewhere while bringing back younger, malleable prospects to the Dodgers’ system.

While the trade block heats up, there is one name that appears to be safe despite outside speculation: Teoscar Hernandez. The veteran outfielder has become the emotional heartbeat of the clubhouse—the “Mr. Seeds” who celebrates every home run with infectious energy. Although his defensive metrics in the outfield are less than stellar, his clutch performance in the postseason and his role as a unifying force make him indispensable. In a lineup that features the calculated brilliance of Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, Hernandez brings a necessary fire. Trading him would risk disrupting the chemistry that has been central to their dynasty, a risk the front office appears unwilling to take.

Perhaps the most terrifying development for the rest of the league is not who the Dodgers are subtracting, but who they are still trying to add. Despite a rotation that already boasts Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, and rookie sensation Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers are reportedly in talks with the Milwaukee Brewers regarding ace Freddy Peralta. This pursuit is driven by a “paranoid” excellence; the Dodgers know all too well how quickly pitching depth can evaporate due to injury. The trauma of the 2024 season, where the bullpen was pushed to its breaking point, has instilled a philosophy of “never enough pitching.” Adding Peralta would be an act of pure greed, a move designed to demoralize opponents before the first pitch of the season is even thrown.

The projected 2026 lineup for the Dodgers is being hailed as a “work of art” comparable to the Mona Lisa. It features three MVPs at the top in Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman, followed by arguably the best catcher in baseball in Will Smith, and now Kyle Tucker batting fifth. This “Avengers” assembly is not just favored to win; they are expected to dominate in a way the sport hasn’t seen since the Yankees of the late 90s. The addition of Tucker, effectively replacing Michael Conforto, and Diaz, replacing Tanner Scott, has taken a World Series roster and upgraded its few “weak” spots with elite talent.

As the Dodgers prepare to clear roster space, the message to the rest of the league is clear: The window is not closing; it is being smashed wide open. The potential trade of Bobby Miller marks the end of one experiment and the beginning of another ruthless efficiency. Whether they land Freddy Peralta or simply stand pat with their current embarrassment of riches, the 2026 Dodgers are not just chasing a trophy. They are chasing immortality. The “Golden Age” of Dodger baseball is here, and for 29 other teams, it looks a lot like a nightmare.