MLB WINTER MEETINGS

December 5, 2023

Dave Roberts

Los Angeles Dodgers

Press Conference

Q. Obviously we talked a lot about moves that you guys were hoping to be making in regard to focusing on starting pitching as well as some outfielders. In the last 24 hours is there anything that has come to you or kind of been a big topic of conversation amongst you guys?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know what, I don't think that, outside of some conversations that we've had with players' representatives, we've moved much further than 24 hours. I think that there's a lot of, you know, continued conversations and again, the elephant in the room is what Shohei's going to decide to do. I think that, speaking for our organization, trying to figure out how to read and react and build a roster, so there's a lot of kicking of tires, irons in the fire, any kind of analogy you want to use, but we're trying to position ourselves in the best possible way.

So, we're going to keep having these conversations and see what best way to be the best club we can in 2024 and going forward and I think the narrative, the thought of starting pitching is still high on the list as well.

Q. Are you able to say you met with Shohei?

DAVE ROBERTS: Am I able to say that? It's a good possibility. I think that, yeah, we met with him. I don't want to -- I would like to be honest, and so we met with Shohei and we talked and I think it went well. I think it went well. But at the end of the day he's his own man and he's going to do what's best for himself, where he feels most comfortable.

Q. When and where did you meet?

DAVE ROBERTS: We met in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium.

Q. When?

DAVE ROBERTS: Couple days ago.

Q. What was the pitch that you guys made?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't know if it was more of a pitch. I think it was more of just sort of getting familiar, more familiar with him. I think that he had questions for us, just trying to get more of the landscape, but being in this league for six years he's got a pretty good idea of the Dodgers, what we're about, the city itself. So, for me, and speaking for our guys, it was just a pleasure to get to spend some time with him.

Q. How different is that from the experience you had in 2017?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think in 2017, I think it was more of, more of an overview and you're selling, more of a sell on things that he didn't really know about, the country, the city, the organization, potential role. I think that in this situation, not trying to speak for him, but it's a little bit more narrowed on what his desires are as far as teams. I don't think the sell needed to be as large. I think it was more of just kind of feeling, trying to feel what everyday life would look like.

Q. Did you have any players there?

DAVE ROBERTS: No.

Q. What was it like? Was it a high-pressure thing?

DAVE ROBERTS: No, no, I don't think that -- I think it's pretty easy to have conversations with anyone if you feel comfortable in what you're about, who you work with. We're about people, we're about winning, and so I think that that's pretty easy to talk about. So I don't think that, you know, there's no hiding of the ball, it's just kind of, here we are, and we really hope he feels it's a fit.

Q. How confident are you?

DAVE ROBERTS: I feel good about it. But, again, you know, he's his own man, which we all respect.

Q. (Do you know if he's going to meet again?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't, I don't.

Q. Have you been following all the little twists and turns?

DAVE ROBERTS: I haven't. I honestly, I haven't.

Q. You didn't track his private jet?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't, I don't -- no.

Q. Somebody did.

DAVE ROBERTS: Oh, I'm sure. Absolutely. It wasn't me.

Q. When it comes to, obviously, a player of his profile and the investment that it would take and all that, how much is his policy with the media of not talking unless it's after a day he pitches, and he's not even going to be pitching for a year, does that come up, is that a consideration when you're talking to him?

DAVE ROBERTS: We didn't have that conversation. I think that's something that, yeah, I think that it's a conversation that should be had. I think it's a he, and whatever organization, media relations and just kind of trying to figure out what's best for himself, but also baseball. So, I don't know the right answer, my hope is that we get to have that conversation, but I really can't speak to how it's been prior.

Q. Was he smiling and happy?

DAVE ROBERTS: He has a very good poker face. So, I think he was smiling inside. But I was just happy to spend some time with him. We all were.

Q. Was the meeting almost two, three hours?

DAVE ROBERTS: Somewhere around there.

Q. Two, three hours?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah.

Q. A lot of the clubs that have theoretically met with him are practicing cloak and dagger. I'm curious what gives you the confidence to just come out and say that you met with him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I just think that I don't, I don't feel like lying is something that I do. I was asked a question, and yeah, I think to be forthright in this situation, we kept it quiet, but I think that it's going to come out at some point that we met, and it obviously already has. So, I don't think myself or anyone in our organization would want to lie about it.

Q. Obviously, this is private and delicate, with him in particular has part of it been even more secretive or have you guys had to be more careful with it than with a typical free agent?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think that's fair. I think that, you know, we want to respect Shohei's wishes, Nez's wishes, as far as being private. So, I think that we took the necessary ways to do that, to honor his wish. But obviously people talk and things, you know, and so I don't think that I need to share what we talked about, but I don't think -- yeah, I think that's as forthright as I should be and you guys deserve to be, right?

Q. So you guys snuck him through the back of the stadium?

DAVE ROBERTS: No, there's no, there's no, it's just kind of -- I don't need to get into all that stuff. It's all -- we had an opportunity to get together, which we both wanted, and then ultimately now he has an opportunity to make a decision.

Q. How hard has it been to focus on the other things you guys need to do this winter while you're kind of waiting for that situation? Has it made it, has it been easy to have plan B's or kind of other paths depending upon what he picks?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't think it's -- you know, obviously this is probably, and this is obviously a front office baseball operation situation, they're working tirelessly, and there's a lot of scenarios and ways that this could go. But clearly Shohei's our top priority. So I still think that we've got a lot of people working on other things ultimately to be the best ballclub we can be.

Q. You touched on this already, but how many starters do you feel like you guys need to add this winter?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think I would say certainly one, but two, two starting pitchers is feasible. But, with that, we've got some young guys that are under control that made some big steps forward last year, and so I think that we're in a really good spot, not in really a position, for me, in a position of need, it's more of how can we upgrade and get better and add depth, but it's not somewhere where it's a dire in any stretch as far as starting pitching.

Q. Did you also meet Yamamoto?

DAVE ROBERTS: No.

Q. Care to talk about him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I have not had a chance to meet him. I hope I get the opportunity. I watched a lot of video, but I haven't had that opportunity, but hopefully at some point in time I get the chance.

Q. With the pitching there have been times these past couple years where you guys maybe needed another top starter. Do you feel more confident that you'll be able to line up on something, just given how things are shaking out so far this winter?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think so. I think that there's a lot of different ways to access players. Obviously, there's the free agent and there's also the trade market. So, I think that, you know, if there's opportunity, I think that we can certainly, we're going to be in the conversation for a lot of different arms, starting pitching arms, yeah.

Q. You guys are going to play in Seoul, can you share your thoughts?

DAVE ROBERTS: I'm excited to go to Seoul. I've never been. Obviously having a pitcher like Ryu and before -- obviously he's not with us now -- but talking about the city, I'm really looking forward to it, learning more about the culture, the city. Obviously there's a lot of good ball players there, and so for us and the Padres to go over there and showcase and play two regular season games, it's good for baseball. I'm excited.

Q. Was Shohei, obviously he had the surgery, are you guys clear on what that is? Do you guys have access to that information? Are you confident that he would be able to come back and be a starting pitcher again?

DAVE ROBERTS: We are. We are. So, obviously, Dr. ElAttrache is obviously the point person with that, but I think our staff is confident that when the time is right that he will pitch again. But I think that the thing is, is, for us, it's, you're making a bet on the person, and the player as well. But when you're committing, you know, this type of length and dollars, we're all in on the person. I think that we're willing and excited to make that bet and hopefully it comes to pass.

Q. Obviously, as a reporter, I prefer your approach, but there have been so many other teams that have operated under real close to secrecy about whether they're even pursuing him. What makes you feel comfortable acknowledging that he is a priority?

DAVE ROBERTS: I just think that there's a point, you know, there's a respect of privacy, which I think that we've done that. There is a foundational integrity part of it I feel, and not necessarily the gamesmanship part of it, which is still plausible and fair, which I think that I've already heard rumblings. For me, it's hard to get a pointed question and then to just give a false answer knowingly. So I don't think it's disrespect to anybody in Shohei's party or on our side, I think that the details are going to be withheld, which I think they should be, but it's pretty clear he's a priority for us.

Q. How many rumors have you heard at this point?

DAVE ROBERTS: More than any player I've ever imagined. So, but rightfully so. He's a special, special player.

Q. When are you expecting a decision?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know what, I don't have that answer. I would expect soon, but again, I don't think that, no one's putting his foot to the fire, and he'll make the decision when he and Nez and his camp feel appropriate.

Q. Do you think after he makes his decision you'll see a lot more of just these moves and acquisitions kind of opening up throughout the market, or do you think we'll kind of start to see some of that before he makes his decision?

DAVE ROBERTS: I think it will start to happen shortly thereafter.

Q. What do you want to see added, just with the rest of the roster this winter?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know, I think that the pen is in a really good spot. I think that obviously we've talked a lot about starting pitching and the depth that we're trying to cement. I think, position player-wise, I think that there's a bat or two, or a bet on an internal option or internal options. So, I think that we'll solidify the pitching side of things and then we'll go from there.

Q. If you guys don't get Ohtani, do you think you still will try to go out and add another impact bat?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's possible, yeah.

Q. Would you want a primary DH or something in that mold there?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know, obviously with what we did with J.D., I think with, obviously, with what Shohei brings, it makes sense. But in years past I think for one or two years we kind of rotated, which is on the table as well. So I don't think we're beholden to one way or the other, but unless it's an elite kind of DH.

Q. Where does Gavin Lux stand?

DAVE ROBERTS: Gavin, I think right now he's working his way back. I think he's more of an 80 percent baseball player, 20 percent rehab guy. So I think by Spring Training he'll be a hundred percent of a baseball player, of that mind. I don't see him taking down every game, but I see him as our shortstop, and so, you know, getting him back to health and then it comes to the performance piece.

Q. Walker Buehler, have you caught up with him?

DAVE ROBERTS: I owe him a phone call. I think he's doing well. He'll be ready to go in Spring Training, but when we decide to make his debut in 2024 is going to be determined, you know, whether it's the first week or a month later, we're going to kind of wait and see how spring goes, yeah.

Q. You've had some time now, how did you absorb another first round playoff exit after that happening two years in a row?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah.

Q. What do you change?

DAVE ROBERTS: Yeah, I mean, yeah, that's a good question. I think the thing that we're tackling I think is the starting pitching. I think that's something that is forefront of mind. You look at those three games and we didn't really give ourselves a chance. So I think that addressing that I think is something that, yeah, we're trying to do.

Q. Is that a lesson that you take from this one?

DAVE ROBERTS: No, not necessarily. I just think that there's, just looking out to 2024 and what we had in 2023, I think there's clear opportunities to get better there. But every postseason's different. I can look at 2022 and 2021 and 2019 and argue that it wasn't the starting pitching. So I don't know if there's one formula, but I just think that where we're at, coming off of 2023, it's clear that that part of our roster needs to be upgraded.

Q. Going back to Walker Buehler, will it be him still building up more in the off-season coming back or trying to manage his work?

DAVE ROBERTS: It's a combo. It's what's best to have him being able to finish the season with bullets left. So, you could argue start and have a stop or an abbreviation throughout the season, or you could argue just start a little bit later so there's no pause. So, there's no right answer, obviously Walker's going to be a big part of the conversation and then we'll be all in on that.

Q. Obviously, we all appreciate your honesty, and you talked about that. It's obvious that Shohei was a priority for you guys for a while now. In this last off-season the way you guys operated it became sort of obvious you signed guys to one-year deals and all that stuff. Do you feel like you guys were, you inhibited your ability to win a World Series? I know you guys won a hundred games this year, but with Shohei in the background this off-season, did you guys inhibit your ability to win a World Series to have the best roster to win a World Series?

DAVE ROBERTS: I don't think so. I think that it's certainly a results-based industry. I mean, outside of that first series, we played very well against the Diamondbacks. We got it handed to us in the postseason. So, I don't think it was a virtue of our roster. I believe our roster was better than their roster. They played three great games. They outplayed us for three games and earned it. So, I don't think that we conceded anything. I just think it speaks to not fire all bullets or levers and still win a hundred games and to put yourself in a position speaks a lot to our organization. We just didn't play well for three games. So, I don't think that -- I was as surprised as anyone.

Q. After the LDS, not just with your series, but even in Atlanta, there was a lot of talk about the five days off for the two top seeds. With a lot of the league officials here, has there been any dialogue between managers and the league about those five days off?

DAVE ROBERTS: You know, we're going to meet with the commissioner here shortly, as managers, so I'm sure there's going to be some talk of that. It's interesting. For every small group of managers that say it's a disadvantage, there's going to be another handful or a dozen that say, Bring it on, I'll take the five days off. So, I'm sure there's a conversation, but at the end of the day we just got to play better with the construction of the rules.

I don't know the answer. If you have the answer, give it to me and I'll try to apply it. But, yeah, the last couple years with layoffs we didn't fare well. So, clearly we got to do something different or just play better.

Q. It's not exclusive to you guys.

DAVE ROBERTS: It's not. It's not. So, I just don't know the answer. But I know that we're going to have talks about that though, yeah.

Q. Do you expect to see the same coaching staff back next year?

DAVE ROBERTS: I do. Clayton McCullough was in the mix for a couple jobs, but he'll be back. Everyone else to this point will be back. We're kind of to the point where it's going to be our guys, it's going to get late in the game, as far as keeping eyes on certain guys, so I think it will be the same guys, yeah.