Los Angeles Dodgers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (elbow), who had his second Tommy John surgery in August of 2022, may be delayed (by design) to open the 2024 regular season, according to general manager Brandon Gomes. Recent additions of Japanese lefty Yoshinobu Yamamoto and right-hander Tyler Glasnow allow the Dodgers to "slow play" Buehler entering the 2024 campaign. He's expected to be at full strength for spring training after returning to the mound late in 2023 in the minors by throwing two innings for Triple-A Oklahoma City in September. Buehler struggled in his recovery after throwing sessions, though, and was eventually shut down. The Dodgers are most certainly going to limit his innings in 2024, but to what extent isn't known. Fantasy managers need to keep in mind that Buehler could be held back for the entire first month of the season.

The St. Louis Cardinals announced an undisclosed two-year deal with second baseman Tommy Edman on Monday to avoid salary arbitration. The two-year deal will buy out Edman's final two remaining years of arbitration eligibility. The 28-year-old infielder is rehabbing from wrist surgery and isn't expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training next month. It means that he might not be fully ready for the start of the 2024 regular season, but when healthy, Edman should serve as St. Louis' everyday second baseman. Despite a bad year for the Cardinals in 2023, Edman did his thing with a .248/.307/.399 slash line in 137 total games played with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 27 stolen bases and 69 runs scored. He also has the ability to play shortstop and the outfield, and his positional versatility is pretty much his selling point for fantasy managers.

Based on Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Dustin May's (elbow) Instagram page, he has started a throwing program this offseason after having flexor-tendon surgery and a Tommy John revision on his right elbow in July. Because of the fact that the 26-year-old will be sidelined until at least the second half of the 2024 season, he'll be left to the waiver wire to start the year in a lot of single-year fantasy leagues. May was ready to break out before getting hurt again in 2023, ultimately finishing with a 2.63 ERA (3.23 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP while walking 16 and fanning 34 in 48 innings over nine starts. If he can ever get past the injury bug, there's a lot to like about May's long-term profile. The Dodgers will most likely ease May in for the second half of 2024, so perhaps his true breakout campaign will now come in 2025.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez will "be an everyday guy" in his first year with the team in 2024, according to general manager Brandon Gomes. The Dodgers added Hernandez on a one-year, $23.5 million deal this offseason following a disappointing 2023 campaign with the Seattle Mariners in which he slashed .258/.305/.435 with 26 hoe runs, 29 doubles, two triples, 93 RBI, seven stolen bases and 70 runs scored in 160 games played. An everyday role in a much better lineup is going to raise the 31-year-old's fantasy draft price by itself. Despite decent counting stats for Seattle last season, Hernandez posted the lowest OPS (.740) since his rookie year and he struck out 31 percent of the time. Moving out of a pitcher-friendly park in Seattle should help him bounce back for the Dodgers. Hernandez is a buy candidate with 30-homer potential.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Tommy Edman (wrist) said that he might be slightly delayed on the hitting side heading into spring training. He's going through a progression and expects to be ready for Opening Day, but he hasn't had any bat-to-ball contact this winter other than wiffle balls in his rehab. Edman had arthroscopic surgery on his right wrist in October and is slowly working his way back this offseason. The 28-year-old should be ready for Opening Day, though, barring a setback, but that doesn't mean he won't get off to a slow start in 2024. Edman was a regular for the Cardinals during their disappointing 2023 campaign and hit .248/.307/.399 with a career-high-tying 13 home runs, 47 RBI, 27 steals and 69 runs scored in 137 games. The switch-hitter's versatility -- he played second, shortstop and the outfield -- is his most attractive selling point to fantasy managers.