1 move the Dodgers must make after re-signing Miguel Rojas

When Miguel Rojas expressed his desire to return to Los Angeles Dodgers during a November interview, he also issued a strong call to action to the organization and his teammates: keep the core and become the first MLB team since the turn of the century to pull an immortal tri-shake. World Series Hero re-signed with LA to a one-year, $5.5 million deal, which means the first step of his plan is complete.

But the Dodgers may not be able to successfully defend their title simply by keeping the band together. This franchise reached the top and stayed there by making shrewd additions to the roster. While it’s nice to see the president of baseball operations bring Rojas back for what will be the final season of the veteran infielder’s MLB career, the vaunted executive must set his sights on several newcomers during free agency.

There’s one player in particular who feels like a good fit, and he’s not the high-priced superstar that fans might expect. Los Angeles should take outfielder Rob Refsnyder quickly. He is clearly not the flashy acquisition that Kyle Tucker would be, nor does he address the needs of the football club as they are the Dodgers are rumored to be targeting Roberto Suarez can, but this journeyman can become a welcome member of baseball’s reigning dynasty.

Quique Hernandez stepped up during the 2024 title run, and Rojas hit a now-legendary home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. Unheralded talent keeps blooming in October. The trick is finding the right one. Refsnider just seems like a guy destined to score a big hit or two for the Boys in Blue.

The Dodgers could use a solid bat to lead the way in the outfield

LA doesn’t need more star power. Even though the core of the lineup is getting older, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman still instill a fair amount of confidence. A loaded starting pitching rotation that thrived in the postseason should be able to pick up the slack when needed. Filling the space between Hall of Famers, All-Stars and Cy Youngs is a real challenge.

Strengthening the column is essential, but the acquisition of Suarez or another competent player may take time to finalize. Signing Refsnider seems like a simple move that Friedman can pull off fairly quickly.

The 34-year-old South Korean is an affordable free agent who can add backcourt depth and offensive versatility. He had success against left-handed pitchers during his 10-year big league career, hitting .281 with a .383 on-base percentage, .443 slugging percentage and .826 OPS in 668 at-bats, per FanGraphs. While Refsnider has been a fan favorite and reliable contributor during his four-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox, navigating their on-field impasse has been complicated.

Moreover, he is running out of time to win the ring. The 2012 fifth-round draft pick made just nine postseason appearances. He would also have a limited role in LA, to be clear, but manager Dave Roberts might want his skill and professionalism in contact. Rob Refsnider has the skill and demeanor to excel in the playoffs. He just needs the stars to align.

Returning to his native California would push him closer to a potentially surreal experience. While Andrew Friedman is trying to figure out how to maximize the Dodgers’ chances for a three-peathe must continue to value low-profile signings. Signing Refsnyder wouldn’t immediately give them the “offseason winner” title they’ve won the last few years, but it might just be the move that makes non-Dodgers fans shake their heads next fall.