The Los Angeles Dodgers concluded the 2024 season by winning the World Series on Wednesday, meaning MLB free agency officially began at 6 a.m. PT on Thursday morning.

For the Dodgers, this meant that eight players were no longer under contract with the team.

The group consists of Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Kiké Hernández, Teoscar Hernández, Daniel Hudson, Joe Kelly, Kevin Kiermaier and Blake Treinen.

Meanwhile, the Dodgers have corresponding team options on Austin Barnes and Miguel Rojas for the 2025 season. Clayton Kershaw has a player option and has already indicated he will return next year, but is unsure whether that will be under a new contract or by exercising his current contract.

After keeping the books clear heading into the 2024 offseason, the Dodgers have a group of Tyler Glasnow, Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani under contract through at least 2027.

Starting Thursday, teams will have a five-day window to negotiate exclusively with their own free agents before players can make contact with all other clubs.

Walker Buhler

Walker Buehler was on track for top starting money in the form of an extension or free agency. Unfortunately, a second Tommy John surgery in 2022 wiped out a big payday. Buehler returned to action in 2024, but it was clear he was no longer the same pitcher.

After dealing with some more adversity during the regular season and working to reinvent himself, Buehler showed promise a few times in the postseason.

The highlight was going into the ninth inning of Game 5, which ended the World Series.

Jack Flaherty

Jack Flaherty signed a one-contract deal with the Detroit Tigers after playing four injury-plagued and inconsistent seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and Baltimore Orioles.

He thrived during his stay in Detroit with a 2.95 ERA at the trade deadline, which resulted in him being sent to the Dodgers for the remainder of the season. Flaherty's numbers dipped a bit when he moved to LA and there was some inconsistency in the postseason.

Kike Hernandez

Kiké Hernández has been a solid player throughout his time with the Dodgers, but his true value comes in the playoffs, which he demonstrated on multiple occasions this October. His 15 postseason home runs are the 10th most among active players.

The Dodgers could certainly use his services to bolster the bench next season.

Teoscar Hernandez

The Dodgers' signing of Teoscar Hernández was lost in the excitement surrounding Ohtani and Yamamoto, but he was an important part of their offensive attack and a much-needed counter to left-handed pitchers.

In a weak free agent market and after a down year with the Seattle Mariners in 2023, Hernández signed a one-year deal with the Dodgers and did more than enough to earn a nice payday somewhere.

Hernández has expressed interest in re-signing with the Dodgers, but that could prove challenging if other suitors are aggressive.

Daniel Hudson

Daniel Hudson was a solid middle-inning option for the Dodgers in 2024, with a 3.00 ERA in 63 innings. There were bumps along the way that continued into the World Series.

But Hudson was part of a World Series team and decided to retire.

Joe Kelly

Joe Kelly's 2024 season was marred by injuries and mediocre results. Kelly is 36 years old and has played as a substitute for the past three seasons. She'll probably sign somewhere else.

Kevin Kiermaier

Kevin Kiermaier is expected to officially announce his retirement after 12 seasons in the majors.

Blake Treinen

After missing most of the 2022 season and all of 2023 while recovering from right shoulder surgery, Blake Treinen put together one of his best performances as a pro at the ripe old age of 36. Since then, he has been a mainstay in the Dodgers bullpen during the 2020 season.

After pitching 1.93 in 46.2 innings, re-signing Treinen should be a high priority for the Dodgers' free agent roster.

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