2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers season is the 131st season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 63rd season in Los Angeles, California. They play their home games at Dodger Stadium.
On March 12, 2020, MLB announced that because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks in addition to the remainder of spring training being cancelled. Four days later, it was announced that the start of the season would be pushed back indefinitely due to the recommendation made by the CDC to restrict events of more than 50 people for eight weeks. On June 23, commissioner Rob Manfred unilaterally implemented a 60-game season. Players reported to training camps on July 1 in order to resume spring training and prepare for a July 23 Opening Day.
Offseason
Front Office / Coaching staff
On October 14, 2019, the Dodgers announced that long-time pitching coach Rick Honeycutt would be stepping down from the position to take on a new position with the organization and that he would be replaced by bullpen coach Mark Prior. Josh Bard, who served as the Dodgers bullpen coach in 2016 and 2017 before leaving to join the New York Yankees coaching staff, returned to take his old role. The Dodgers also added Connor McGuinness as the assistant pitching coach and Danny Lehmann as Game Planning Coach, replacing Chris Gimenez.Roster departures
On October 12, 2019, infielder David Freese announced his retirement from baseball. On October 31, the day after the conclusion of the 2019 World Series, starting pitchers Hyun-jin Ryu and Rich Hill and catcher Russell Martin became free agents. On November 3, the Dodgers declined the 2020 option on utility player Jedd Gyorko, making him a free agent. On November 12, utility player Kristopher Negrón announced his retirement from baseball. On December 2, the Dodgers non-tendered relief pitcher Yimi García, making him a free agent. On December 28, the Dodgers released pitcher J. T. Chargois. Pitcher Casey Sadler was designated for assignment on January 15, 2020. On February 10, the Dodgers designated infielder Tyler White and outfielder Kyle Garlick for assignment.Free agent signings
On December 15, 2019, the Dodgers signed relief pitcher Blake Treinen to a one-year, $10 million, contract. On January 7, 2020, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jimmy Nelson to one-year, $1.25 million, contract that also included an option for 2021 and numerous contract bonuses. On January 12, the Dodgers signed left handed starter Alex Wood to a one-year, $4 million, contract.Trades
On February 10, 2020, the Dodgers traded outfielder Alex Verdugo and minor leaguers Connor Wong and Jeter Downs to the Boston Red Sox in exchange for outfielder Mookie Betts, starting pitcher David Price and cash considerations. They also traded starting pitcher Kenta Maeda, minor leaguer Jaír Camargo and cash considerations to the Minnesota Twins for pitcher Brusdar Graterol, outfielder Luke Raley and the 67th pick in the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.| Off-season 40-man roster moves | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spring Training / Summer Campfor the Dodgers began on February 13, 2020, when pitchers and catchers reported to Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. Position players reported the following day and the first Cactus League game was played on February 22.On February 29, the Dodgers designated pitcher Yadier Álvarez for assignment. He had been on the restricted list from the previous season as a result of disciplinary issues in the minor leagues. He showed up for camp but was unable to make his first spring start due to injury and they designated him the following day. On March 12, Major League Baseball cancelled the remaining spring training games and announced that the start of the regular season would be delayed by at least two weeks, due to the coronavirus pandemic. After extensive discussion between the players and ownership over the status of the season, on June 23, the league announced that players would report to the home stadiums by July 1 and that a second training camp would begin two days later with the season to begin on July 24, without fans in the stands. A number of rule changes would also be instituted for the new season, such as having a DH in both leagues and placing a runner on second to begin extra innings. On July 4, David Price announced that due to the pandemic he would opt out of playing in the 2020 season. Pitcher Jimmy Nelson announced that he would undergo surgery on his lower back on July 7, and would miss the entire season. On July 21, the Dodgers signed pitcher Jake McGee to a one-year contract and announced that second baseman Gavin Lux would not make the opening day roster. At the conclusion of the summer camp, the announced that Ross Stripling would take Price's spot in the starting rotation. On July 22, the Dodgers signed Mookie Betts to a 12-year contract extension, through the 2032 season. The deal was worth $365 million and also included a $65 million signing bonus, making it the richest contract in Dodgers history. Original cancelled scheduleThe following schedule was set by MLB prior to the March 12 announcement delaying the start of the regular season.Season standingsNational League WestNational League Wild CardRegular seasonJulyThe Dodgers finally began the season on July 23 against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium. Dustin May started on Opening Day after Clayton Kershaw was scratched with a bad back. Kiké Hernández drove in five runs on four hits, including a home run as the Dodgers won 8–1. In the second game, Ross Stripling allowed only four hits in seven innings while Max Muncy hit two homers in a 9–1 win. However, in the third game, the Giants beat the Dodgers, 5–4, a shaky Alex Wood allowed three runs in only three innings of work. The Giants beat the Dodgers on July 26 to finish the opening four game series with a split.In their first road series of the season, the Dodgers beat the Houston Astros 5–2 at Minute Maid Park on July 28. Reliever Joe Kelly was suspended for eight games after throwing at Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa in the game. In the following game, Edwin Ríos hit a two-run home run in the 13th inning as the Dodgers won, 4–2, to sweep the two game series. In the next series, the Dodgers took on the Arizona Diamondbacks for four games at Chase Field, starting with a 6–3 win, which included three home runs. However the bullpen melted down in the 8th inning in the following game, as they lost 5–3.. In the third game of the series, A.J. Pollock, Ríos, Matt Beaty, and Chris Taylor each homered as the Dodgers routed the Diamondbacks 11–2. GamelogOn July 6, MLB issued a new revised schedule for the season to start in July. The Dodgers will play 60 games, 10 games each against their division opponents, and 20 interleague games against opponents from the AL West Division.Current rosterTransactionsJuly
Major League Baseball DraftThe 2020 Draft was shortened to only five rounds as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Dodgers had six picks in the draft, including a pick in "Competitive Balance Round B" between the second and third rounds. The Dodgers acquired that pick from the Minnesota Twins in the Kenta Maeda trade.
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