I cover the Dodgers for MLB.com. BBWAA. Alum @COMatBU, @dailyfreepress. Washed-up synchro skater 💫
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Articles by Sonja Chen
Dodgers confirman que buscarán reunirse con Skubal esta temporada baja
LOS ÁNGELES -- Nunca hubo muchas dudas de que los Dodgers estaban interesados en el principal agente libre de esta temporada muerta, pero el gerente general Brandon Gomes reconoció el martes que el equipo está buscando reencontrarse con Tarik Skubal, ganador de dos premios Cy Young de la Liga Americana.
Dodgers confirm pursuit of Skubal reunion this offseason
LOS ANGELES -- There was never really any doubt that the Dodgers were interested in this offseason's top free agent, but general manager Brandon Gomes acknowledged on Tuesday that the team is indeed pursuing a reunion with two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. "We've been in touch with his camp, and our expectation is we'll meet at some point," Gomes told reporters, including MLB.com's Anthony Castrovince, at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas.
¿Qué tanto necesitan los Dodgers volver a firmar a Skubal?
LOS ÁNGELES -- Cuando se trata del interés de los Dodgers por traer de vuelta al zurdo Tarik Skubal, quizás la verdadera pregunta no sea si lo quieren. Skubal está muy por encima de cualquier otro agente libre este invierno. El ganador de dos premios Cy Young de la Liga Americana apunta a conseguir un contrato récord en el mercado abierto.
How much do the Dodgers need to re-sign Skubal?
LOS ANGELES -- When it comes to the Dodgers' interest in bringing back Tarik Skubal, it may not really be a question of whether they want him. Skubal is a cut above every other free agent this offseason, a two-time AL Cy Young Award winner who is expected to command a record-breaking contract on the open market. He went 12-7 with a 2.72 ERA in 26 starts in his walk year, which was disrupted by a six-week absence due to surgery to remove a loose body from his left elbow.
Dodgers cortan vínculos con el coach de bateo Bates tras 12 años en el club (fuente)
La ofensiva de los Dodgers en el 2026 se desinfló después de la pausa del Juego de Estrellas, culminando en una barrida que puso fin a su temporada a manos de los eventuales campeones de la Serie Mundial, los Cerveceros, en la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional. En general, terminaron cuartos en carreras anotadas (801), terceros en promedio de bateo (.257), segundos en OPS (.762) y segundos en wRC+ (111).
Dodgers part ways with hitting coach Bates (source)
When the Dodgers' offseason began, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the expectation was that the coaching staff would remain status quo for the 2027 season. But the team and Bates were unable to agree to terms on a new contract, leading to a shakeup on the staff. LOS ANGELES -- In a surprising change to their coaching staff, the Dodgers are parting ways with hitting coach Aaron Bates, a source told MLB.com on Friday.
De Paula encabeza grupo de prospectos que alejaría a los Dodgers del “precipicio”
This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen's Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. Los Dodgers comparten el enfoque principal de la mayoría de los equipos al construir su roster para una nueva campaña: ganar ahora. Pero también siempre mantienen un ojo puesto en el proverbial precipicio, como le gusta decir al presidente de operaciones de béisbol, Andrew Friedman.
These 3 Dodgers prospects could make an impact next season
This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen's Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. The Dodgers share the primary focus of most teams when constructing their roster for a new reason: Winning in the present day. But they also always keep an eye toward the proverbial cliff, as president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman likes to say.
Even a banged-up Ohtani dazzles enough to earn nod as MVP finalist
LOS ANGELES -- Injuries might have spelled a disappointing end to his year, but Shohei Ohtani still put together a season to remember. Ohtani was named a finalist for the 2026 National League Most Valuable Player Award, as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America and announced on MLB Network on Monday. The other finalists are Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and Brewers second baseman Brice Turang. The winners of both league's MVP Awards will be announced on Nov.
¿Cómo podría lucir el roster de Dodgers en su intento por volver a la cima?
LOS ÁNGELES -- Un nuevo campeón ha sido coronado. La temporada muerta, que comenzó para los Dodgers mucho antes de lo que hubieran deseado, ya está aquí para todos los equipos de Grandes Ligas. Incluso con la partida de nueve jugadores a la agencia libre (encabezados por el zurdo Tarik Skubal), el roster de los Dodgers está construido para competir nuevamente en 2027.
Way-too-early look at how Dodgers' roster could shape up in '27
Even with nine players departing in free agency -- chief among them left-hander Tarik Skubal -- the Dodgers' roster is built to contend again in 2027. But in order to keep its competitive window open well beyond then, this may be the time for L.A. to infuse some young talent to complement its veteran core. The Dodgers never shy away from bringing in free agents or swinging trades, but they should be able to upgrade some areas of their roster internally.
Dodgers EVP/COO Bob Wolfe announces retirement
“Bob’s entire career has been characterized by growth, innovation and success, and all reinforced by his steady day-to-day guidance,” Kasten said in a team release. “It is hard to imagine operating without him at my side, but the fact that we are going to proceed in a seamless fashion is exactly what you would expect from Bob’s style of leadership.
Ohtani, Muncy, Pages among Dodgers up for major awards
This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen's Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. Shohei Ohtani was the undisputed Most Valuable Player in the National League in each of his first two seasons with the Dodgers, but that run appears over after his third year in Los Angeles.
El plan de los Dodgers con Josué De Paula de cara al 2027
LOS ÁNGELES -- Puede que apenas haya acumulado 45 visitas al plato a nivel de Grandes Ligas, pero el dominicnao Josué De Paula ya luce como alguien que podría marcar la diferencia para los Dodgers en el 2027 y más allá. El mejor prospecto de los Dodgers (Nro. 4 en general, según MLB Pipeline) casi ni sintió el salto cuando fue ascendido directamente a las Mayores desde Doble-A Tulsa en septiembre.
With an eye on defensive growth, 'sky's the limit' for De Paula
LOS ANGELES -- He may have taken just 45 total plate appearances at the big league level, but Josue De Paula already looks like someone who could be a difference maker for the Dodgers in 2027 and beyond. The Dodgers' top prospect (No. 4 overall, per MLB Pipeline) hardly missed a beat when he was promoted directly to the Majors from Double-A Tulsa in September. He stuck to his advanced approach at the plate under the brightest lights, looking right at home as a bat off the bench in the postseason.
A Subset of FOXO1-Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma With Round Cell (Alveolar) and “Burkitt-Like” Morphology Is Associated With High Amplification of MYCL : A Report From the Children's Oncology Group
Disclosure The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Data Availability Statement The data that support the findings of this study are available from Children's Oncology Group (COG). Restrictions apply to the availability of these data, which were used under license for this study. Data are available from the author(s) with the permission of Children's Oncology Group (COG).
Rushing undergoes surgery to repair partially torn UCL in right elbow
Because hitting did not make Rushing feel worse, the Dodgers did not shut him down until their season was over. He was a distant option to be the team's lefty bat off the bench in the postseason, although L.A. opted to carry top prospect Josue De Paula on its NLDS and NLCS rosters instead. LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers backup catcher Dalton Rushing had surgery to repair the partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Wednesday, a source confirmed to MLB.com.
Ohtani no necesitará cirugía, anticipa ver acción dos vías. Pero en veremos a qué nivel
LOS ÁNGELES -- Los Dodgers esperan que Shohei Ohtani esté completamente en salud para el comienzo de la temporada del 2027. Pero después de que persistentes lesiones lo descarrilaron en el 2026, tendrán que evaluar qué pueden hacer diferente para llevarlo con éxito durante el próximo año como un jugador de dos vías.
Ohtani won't need surgery, expects to return to 2-way form. How that looks is up in the air
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are expecting Shohei Ohtani to be fully healthy by the beginning of the 2027 season. But after ongoing injuries derailed him in '26, they will have to evaluate what they can do differently to successfully get him through next year as a two-way player.
These are the 5 most pressing offseason questions for Dodgers
This story was excerpted from Sonja Chen's Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox. There will be no three-peat this year, but that does not mean L.A.'s contention window is closed, as much of the team's core talent remains under contract for next season and beyond. But this offseason could be the beginning of a transition period for the Dodgers.
Lo que los Dodgers pueden aprender del 2026 de Ohtani, marcado por las lesiones
LOS ÁNGELES - A medida que las lesiones persistentes empezaron a pasarle factura a Shohei Ohtani durante la temporada regular, los Dodgers recurrieron a menudo al mismo argumento: lo más importante era que él se sintiera lo mejor posible en octubre.
What Dodgers can learn from Ohtani's injury-plagued 2026
LOS ANGELES -- As lingering injuries began to take their toll on Shohei Ohtani during the regular season, the Dodgers frequently returned to the same refrain: What mattered most was him feeling the best he could in October. Ohtani was one of several L.A. hitters going through an ill-timed slump, but his ongoing right biceps and left knee injuries could have been managed better by the Dodgers, and perhaps himself.
¿Irá L.A. tras Skubal? Las interrogantes que enfrentan los Dodgers en esta temporada baja
LOS ÁNGELES - La temporada baja ha llegado antes de lo previsto para los Dodgers. Antes de haber asimilado por completo la derrota del jueves por la noche (6-4) ante los Cerveceros en el Juego 4 de la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional —resultado que puso fin a su temporada y a su intento de lograr un tercer título consecutivo—, los Dodgers tuvieron que afrontar la realidad de que probablemente se avecinan cambios en el equipo.
Will LA target Skubal in free agency? Here are the questions facing Dodgers this offseason
LOS ANGELES -- The offseason has come earlier than expected for the Dodgers. Before they had fully digested Thursday night's 6-4 loss to the Brewers in Game 4 of the NL Championship Series -- which ended their season and their three-peat bid -- the Dodgers had to grapple with the reality that changes are likely to come to their team. The Dodgers are set to lose nine players to free agency, a class headlined by the top player on the market, Tarik Skubal.
Dodgers left to ponder state of team core as cracks emerge in NLCS sweep
LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers' last two seasons ended with champagne flowing, beer spraying and the air thick with cigar smoke. But this year, in the home clubhouse at Dodger Stadium, there was no chaos to be had: just a solemn roomful of players reflecting on what could have been, as the celebration got underway on the visitors' side of the ballpark. A three-peat was not an impossible dream, but it was always going to be improbable. On Thursday night, the Dodgers woke up.
Todo lo que debes saber sobre el J4 de la SCLN entre Cerveceros y Dodgers (8 p.m. ET)
Milwaukee llega al Juego 4 de la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional la noche del jueves con una contundente ventaja de 3-0. Sin embargo, los Dodgers siguen siendo los campeones hasta que alguien los destrone, y han superado numerosos obstáculos en su camino hacia los títulos de Serie Mundial en cada una de las últimas dos temporadas. Pero nunca se habían enfrentado a una situación como ésta.
Brewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 4 FAQ (8 ET, FS1/FOX One)
LOS ANGELES -- It’s been 44 years since the Brewers last reached the World Series. They’re one win away. Milwaukee brings a commanding 3-0 lead into Game 4 of the National League Championship Series on Thursday night. But the Dodgers are the champs until they’re not, and they’ve faced plenty of adversity on their way to World Series titles in each of the past two seasons. Never like this though.
LA facing long odds after rough 7th flips script on Snell's Game 3 start
LOS ANGELES -- Dave Roberts has had his back against the wall like this, well before he stood at the helm of the Dodgers. Roberts' 2004 Red Sox are the only team to come back from being down 3-0 in a best-of-seven postseason series. More than two decades later, Roberts will have to lead his Dodgers back from the same hole if the back-to-back champions are to keep their three-peat bid alive.
Ohtani estará en el lineup para el Juego 3 de la SCLN, según Dave Roberts
La última vez que Ohtani conectó un jonrón fue el 18 de agosto en el Coors Field, y desde entonces apenas ha impulsado una carrera. Sus 110 visitas al plato sin conectar un cuadrangular, incluyendo la postemporada, representan la racha más larga de su carrera, superando las 104 apariciones al bate que acumuló entre el 2022 y el 2023.
Ohtani will be in NLCS Game 3 lineup, per Dave Roberts
Ohtani has been managing lingering right biceps and left knee injuries since at least June, which landed him on the 15-day IL in September. The injuries began to have a notable impact on his production in early August. In his last 35 games, regular season and postseason, Ohtani is hitting .197 with a .629 OPS. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Shohei Ohtani will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday night.
Cerveceros-Dodgers, Juego 3 de la SCLN: Lo que debes saber (8 p.m. ET, Fox Deportes)
MILWAUKEE -- La Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional se traslada a Los Ángeles para el Juego 3 la noche del miércoles, y baste decir que los Dodgers necesitan esta victoria. Los Cerveceros han tomado una ventaja de 2-0 en la serie, protegiendo su terreno con un par de victorias llenas de drama en Milwaukee. Pero bueno, por un motivo estos Dodgers han ganado títulos consecutivos de Serie Mundial. Han demostrado que no caerán fácilmente.
Brewers-Dodgers NLCS Game 3 FAQ (Wed. 8 p.m. ET, FS1/FOX One)
MILWAUKEE -- The National League Championship Series shifts to Los Angeles for Game 3 on Wednesday night -- and suffice it to say, the Dodgers need this one. The Brewers have raced out to a 2-0 series lead, protecting their home field with a pair of drama-filled victories in Milwaukee. But, well, these Dodgers have won consecutive World Series titles for a reason. They’ve proven they won’t go down easily. “It’s certainly a challenge,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. “Can we do it? Absolutely.
Dodgers evaluarán dejar a Ohtani en la banca para el Juego 3 de la SCLN (informe)
MILWAUKEE -- Shohei Ohtani no ha rendido al nivel de sus capacidades desde hace más de dos meses. Con los Dodgers abajo 0-2 en la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional, tras caer 7-4 ante los Cerveceros el lunes, el equipo analizará la posibilidad de dejarlo fuera de la alineación para el Juego 3 del miércoles, según un reporte de Katie Woo y Ken Rosenthal, de The Athletic.
Dodgers to discuss sitting Ohtani for NLCS Game 3 (report)
De Paula made the postseason roster, but because his outfield defense is a weakness, he has been used exclusively as a bat off the bench. He has pinch-hit three times this postseason, drawing two walks. The only way for De Paula to see more playing time without compromising the Dodgers' defense would be at the cost of Ohtani's spot in the starting lineup -- and given Ohtani's struggles, it may be worth seeing what De Paula can do.
To turn NLCS around, Dodgers' offense needs to figure things out -- and quickly
MILWAUKEE -- The Dodgers did what they were supposed to do with the extra outs the Brewers gifted them on Monday night. But when it came to building innings without the help of miscues from their opponent, they fell flat. After going hitless with runners in scoring position for the fourth time in six postseason games, the Dodgers fell to the Brewers, 7-4, in Game 2 of the NL Championship Series at American Family Field.
Skubal loses steam second time through in NLCS opener vs. Brewers
MILWAUKEE -- Tarik Skubal has been about as consistent as they come since being traded to the Dodgers this summer, but for the first time in eight postseason starts, the two-time Cy Young Award winner did not record an out beyond the fifth inning.
Despierta, Shoehei, despierta
Hace casi un año, Shohei Ohtani atravesaba una profunda mala racha con el bate durante la Serie Divisional de la Liga Nacional y el comienzo de la Serie de Campeonato. Entonces, casi de la nada, Ohtani despertó con una actuación magistral como bateador y lanzador: tres jonrones y 10 ponches propinados en seis innings en blanco, prácticamente derrotando él solo a los Cerveceros en el Juego 4 de la SCLN, mientras los Dodgers completaban la barrida para regresar a la Serie Mundial.
¿Podrá Ohtani despertar a tiempo para repetir su hazaña en la SCLN?
MILWAUKEE -- Hace casi un año, Shohei Ohtani atravesaba una profunda mala racha con el bate durante la Serie Divisional de la Liga Nacional y el comienzo de la Serie de Campeonato. Entonces, casi de la nada, Ohtani despertó con una actuación magistral como bateador y lanzador: tres jonrones y 10 ponches propinados en seis innings en blanco, prácticamente derrotando él solo a los Cerveceros en el Juego 4 de la SCLN, mientras los Dodgers completaban la barrida para regresar a la Serie Mundial.
Dodgers agregan al zurdo Wrobleski al roster para la SCLN y dejan fuera a Kim
MILWAUKEE -- Los Dodgers agregaron a un 13er lanzador al definir su roster de 26 jugadores para la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional, previo al Juego 1 de la noche del domingo en el American Family Field. El zurdo Justin Wrobleski se incorporó al bullpen, mientras que Hyeseong Kim, una alternativa por su velocidad, quedó fuera del roster.
Dodgers add lefty Wrobleski to NLCS roster, leave off speedster Kim
Catchers (2): Will Smith, Hunter Feduccia First baseman (1): Freddie Freeman Second baseman (1): Tommy Edman Shortstop (1): Mookie Betts Third baseman (1): Max Muncy Outfielders (3): Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker Utility/bench (3): Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, Josue De Paula Two-way player (1): Shohei Ohtani Starters (4): Tarik Skubal, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow Relievers (9): Edwin Díaz, Tanner Scott, Edgardo Henriquez, Alex Vesia, Evan Phillips, Roki...
Rojas (back) expected to be on Dodgers' NLCS roster
Both were on the NLDS roster for specialized reasons: Kim for his speed, and De Paula for his bat. The Dodgers appear more likely to keep De Paula, their primary left-handed bat off the bench, than Kim, who only made it into Game 4 as a defensive replacement in the wake of Rojas' injury.
Can Ohtani repeat history with an NLCS offensive breakout vs. Brewers?
Then, almost out of nowhere, Ohtani broke out with a masterpiece of a two-way performance: three homers to back 10 strikeouts across six scoreless innings, almost singlehandedly beating the Brewers in NLCS Game 4 as the Dodgers swept their way back to the World Series. So even though it has been more than two months since Ohtani has hit to his capabilities, the Dodgers are confident that he can find something at the plate this postseason.
Here's how the pitching might line up for the Dodgers-Brewers NLCS
MILWAUKEE -- It’s the Brewers’ (mostly) homegrown talent against the Dodgers’ high-priced stars as the teams line up their starting rotations for the National League Championship Series. Here is a look at how the two rotations should look through the first few games of this best-of-seven series. Dodgers Game 1: Tarik Skubal, LHP Skubal would have started a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Braves on Friday, but the Dodgers took care of business in four.
Todo sobre el Juego 1 de la SCLN entre Dodgers y Cerveceros (domingo, 8 p.m. ET)
Los dos mejores equipos de la Liga Nacional durante la temporada regular son los últimos que siguen en pie. Los Cerveceros, con 103 victorias, contra los Dodgers, con 100 triunfos. ¿Quién está listo para una revancha de la Serie de Campeonato de la Liga Nacional del año pasado? "Al llegar a la postemporada, tenías la sensación de que ibas a tener que pasar por Los Ángeles", dijo el bateador designado de los Cerveceros, Christian Yelich. "Son campeones de dos años consecutivos y un gran equipo.
Edwin Díaz vuelve a ganarse la confianza de Roberts de cara a la SCLN
LOS ÁNGELES -- Aunque el manager Dave Roberts quizás todavía no esté listo para nombrar oficialmente al puertorriqueño Edwin Díaz como su cerrador, sus acciones hablaron más fuerte que sus palabras durante la Serie Divisional de la Liga Nacional. En situaciones de salvamento consecutivas en los Juegos 3 y 4, Roberts le entregó la pelota a Díaz, quien convirtió ambas oportunidades.
Restored faith in Díaz gives Roberts another leverage weapon entering NLCS
LOS ANGELES -- While manager Dave Roberts may not be quite ready to officially rename Edwin Díaz his closer, his actions spoke louder than his words in the National League Division Series. In back-to-back save situations in Games 3 and 4, Roberts handed the ball to Díaz, who converted both opportunities. "The last two nights, that's the reason why we acquired a guy like Edwin Díaz," Roberts said after the Dodgers won the NLDS in four games. "He's one of the great closers in the game.
Reddit AMA: Ohtani's health, final NLCS roster decisions and more
MLB.com Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen took questions from fans in an r/Dodgers AMA on Friday. The full conversation can be viewed here, but below is a sampling of the best questions and answers, lightly edited for clarity. What is the overall sentiment on Shohei Ohtani? Is he still healthy enough to keep playing in the postseason? Ohtani is considered healthy enough to keep playing, and all indications are that the Dodgers will continue to play him, even as he scuffles.
El “Kike de octubre” sigue siendo clave en la búsqueda del tricampeonato de L.A.
LOS ÁNGELES -- ¿Qué tienen en común Jim Thome, el dominicano David Ortiz, Aaron Judge y el puertorriqueño Enrique “Kike” Hernández? Todos han conectado exactamente 17 jonrones en postemporada. Sin embargo, uno de esos cuatro nombres no encaja del todo con los demás. Thome y Ortiz son miembros del Salón de la Fama, mientras que Judge va por muy buen camino para unirse a ellos algún día en Cooperstown. Hernández no es un futuro miembro del Salón de la Fama.
'October Kiké' remains a constant in Dodgers' chase for three-peat
LOS ANGELES -- What do Jim Thome, David Ortiz, Aaron Judge and Kiké Hernández have in common? They have all hit exactly 17 postseason home runs. One of those four names is not quite like the others. Thome and Ortiz are Hall of Famers, and Judge is well on track to join them in Cooperstown one day. Hernández is no Hall of Famer. His regular-season track record is that of a useful role player. But from the moment the calendar flips to October, Hernández transforms under the lights.
Cuatro ases, una misión: Así luciría la rotación de los Dodgers en la SCLN
LOS ÁNGELES -- El pitcheo abridor de élite de los Dodgers fue el motor que impulsó al equipo a defender exitosamente su título de Serie Mundial en el 2025. Ahora, mientras los bicampeones buscan conquistar su tercera corona consecutiva, su temible rotación de cuatro brazos ya ha tenido un impacto igual de importante en los primeros cuatro juegos de esta postemporada.
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