The 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers season was the 127th for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 59th season in Los Angeles, California. They began the season with a new manager in Dave Roberts. The Dodgers in 2016 set a new Major League record for the most players placed on the disabled list in one season. On September 25, they clinched their fourth consecutive National League West championship, the first team in the division ever to do so and defeated the Washington Nationals in five games in the NLDS. They were defeated by the Chicago Cubs; the eventual World Series champion, in six games in the NLCS. This was the 67th and final season for Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully.
Offseason
Managerial change The Dodgers announced on October 22, 2015, that manager Don Mattingly would not be returning to the team for the 2016 season. In five seasons as manager, Mattingly had a record of 446–363, a .551 winning percentage (2nd best in Los Angeles Dodgers history) and guided the team to three straight National League West titles for the first time in franchise history. On November 23, the team announced that former Dodger player Dave Roberts would become the new manager.
The Dodgers also announced a new coaching staff, with pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and catching instructor Steve Yeager as the only holdovers from Mattingly's staff. New hires included bench coach Bob Geren, hitting coach Turner Ward, assistant hitting coach Tim Hyers, third base coach Chris Woodward, first base coach George Lombard, bullpen coach Josh Bard and quality assurance coach Juan Castro.
Broadcasting team Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully announced that the 2016 season would be his final season in the Dodgers broadcast booth. The season was his record 67th season with the Dodgers, the longest tenure with one team by any sports announcer in history. Scully was assigned only six road games during the season, which included the entirety of the team's season-ending series at San Francisco. The Dodgers held a tribute night for Scully at their September 23, 2016 home game, which featured a pre-game ceremony honoring his accomplishments.
As in previous seasons, most games not called by Scully were called by Charley Steiner on television, alongside returning analysts Orel Hershiser and Nomar Garciaparra. Steiner teamed with Rick Monday for most radio broadcasts; Kevin Kennedy would again work on radio with Monday when Steiner was on television. On television, 50 road games were also assigned to a new hire, Joe Davis, alongside Hershiser and Garciaparra. It was subsequently revealed over the off-season that Davis would succeed Vin Scully as the television voice of the Dodgers for the 2017 season.
Roster departures On November 2, 2015, the day after the 2015 World Series, shortstop Jimmy Rollins, second baseman Howie Kendrick and starting pitcher Brett Anderson became free agents. The next day, starting pitcher Zack Greinke exercised an opt out option on his contract, voiding the last three years of his contract and becoming a free agent. Anderson accepted the Dodgers qualifying offer and remained with the team, though Greinke and Kendrick declined their offers. Outfielders Justin Ruggiano and Chris Heisey were outrighted to the minors and chose to become free agents in early November. The team also declined the 2016 options on second baseman Chase Utley, relief pitcher Joel Peralta, and starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo, making them all free agents. On December 2, the Dodgers chose not to tender 2016 contracts to pitchers Juan Nicasio and Lisalverto Bonilla, making them both free agents. The Dodgers traded pitcher Joe Wieland to the Seattle Mariners on January 12, 2016. The same day, they traded relief pitcher Tyler Olson and infielder Ronald Torreyes to the New York Yankees for a pair of minor leaguers.
Roster additions The Dodgers started adding to their roster on December 7, when they claimed two players off waivers, pitcher Danny Reynolds from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and outfielder Daniel Fields from the Milwaukee Brewers. Chase Utley re-signed with the Dodgers on December 9, for a one-year, $7 million, contract. Reynolds was designated for assignment on December 18 to make room for pitcher Tyler Olson who was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for cash considerations.
On December 16, 2015, the Dodgers acquired infielder Micah Johnson, pitcher Frankie Montas and outfielder Trayce Thompson in a three team trade that sent Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox and José Peraza, Brandon Dixon and Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds. On December 30, they signed left-handed starter Scott Kazmir to a 3-year free agent contract. On January 6, they designated Olson for assignment and re-signed starting pitcher Brandon Beachy to a $1.5 million incentive laden one-year deal. On January 7, they signed right-handed starter Kenta Maeda, formerly of the Japanese Hiroshima Toyo Carp, to an eight-year contract. On January 19, they signed veteran right-handed pitcher Joe Blanton to a one-year, $4 million, contract as a relief pitcher. On February 4, they re-signed second baseman Howie Kendrick to a two-year, $20 million, contract. On February 19, the day spring training started, they signed right-handed relief pitcher Louis Coleman to a one-year, $725,000, free agent contract and two days later they finalized their signing of Cuban pitcher Yaisel Sierra to a six-year, $30 million, contract.
Off-season 40-man roster moves Departing Player Date TransactionNew Team Arriving playerOld teamDateTransaction Brett AndersonNovember 2Free agentLos Angeles DodgersBrett AndersonLos Angeles DodgersNovember 13accepted qualifying offer Zack GreinkeNovember 2Free agentArizona DiamondbacksJharel CottonOklahoma City DodgersNovember 20added to 40-man roster Jimmy RollinsNovember 2Free agentChicago White SoxRoss StriplingTulsa DrillersNovember 20added to 40-man roster Howie KendrickNovember 2Free agentLos Angeles DodgersDanny ReynoldsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimDecember 7Waiver claim Justin RuggianoNovember 6outrighted and declared free agencyTexas Rangers Daniel FieldsMilwaukee BrewersDecember 7Waiver claim Chris HeiseyNovember 6outrighted and declared free agencyWashington NationalsChase Utley Los Angeles Dodgers December 9Free agent signing Joel PeraltaNovember 6option declinedSeattle MarinersMicah Johnson Chicago White Sox December 16 Trade Bronson ArroyoNovember 6option declinedWashington NationalsFrankie MontasChicago White Sox December 16 trade Chase UtleyNovember 6option declinedLos Angeles Dodgers Trayce ThompsonChicago White Sox December 16trade Juan NicasioDecember 2non tenderedPittsburgh PiratesTyler Olson Seattle Mariners December 18 trade Lisalverto BonillaDecember 2non tenderedLos Angeles DodgersScott Kazmir Houston Astros December 30 free agent signing Brooks BrownDecember 4outrighted to the minorsOklahoma City Dodgers Brandon BeachyLos Angeles Dodgers January 6 free agent signing José PerazaDecember 16tradeCincinnati RedsKenta Maeda Hiroshima Toyo Carp January 7 free agent signing Scott ScheblerDecember 16tradeCincinnati RedsJoe Blanton Pittsburgh Pirates January 19 free agent signing Brandon DixonDecember 16tradeCincinnati RedsHowie Kendrick Los Angeles Dodgers February 4 free agent signing Danny ReynoldsDecember 23waiver claimHouston AstrosLouis Coleman Kansas City Royals February 19 free agent signing Daniel FieldsJanuary 7waiver claimChicago White SoxYaisel Sierra Cuban National Series February 21 free agent signing Joe WielandJanuary 12tradeSeattle Mariners Tyler OlsonJanuary 12tradeNew York Yankees Ronald TorreyesJanuary 12tradeNew York Yankees Brandon BeachyJanuary 27outrighted to the minorsOklahoma City Dodgers
Spring training Early in spring training, the Dodgers received word that starting pitcher Brett Anderson would require surgery to repair a bulging disc in his lower back, sidelining him for the first 3–4 months of the season and that relief pitcher Josh Ravin broke his left arm in a traffic accident and was also out for a considerable amount of time. First baseman Adrián González took some time off from camp to play for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. The injury bug continued to ravage the Dodgers rotation, with Mike Bolsinger suffering a strained oblique and non roster pitcher Brandon Beachy came down with a case of elbow tendinitis that slowed his progress. On March 22, it was revealed that outfielder Andre Ethier had a broken leg, as a result of fouling a ball off his shin, and he would be out 10–14 weeks.
At the end of spring training, Ross Stripling, beat out Zach Lee and Carlos Frías for the fifth starter spot. The Dodgers opening day roster included 10 players on the disabled list, the most in MLB since the stat started being tracked in 2002.
Standings
National League West
National League Wild Card
Record vs. opponents
Regular season +Opening Day startersName PositionChase Utley Second basemanCorey Seager ShortstopJustin TurnerThird basemanAdrián González First basemanYasiel Puig Right fielderCarl CrawfordLeft fielderJoc Pederson Center fielderA. J. EllisCatcherClayton Kershaw Starting pitcher
April The Dodgers began the 2016 season at Petco Park against the San Diego Padres on April 4. Clayton Kershaw made his sixth straight opening day start for the Dodgers and allowed only one hit in seven innings with nine strikeouts. The offense erupted as well, as the Dodgers started the season with a 15–0 rout. It was the best ever margin of victory in franchise history and also the first time they had won six straight opening day games. The 15 runs was one short of the franchise opening day record of 16 set against the Houston Astros in 1983. Scott Kazmir made his Dodgers debut the following night, pitching six scoreless innings while also allowing only one hit, as the Dodgers, with a 3–0 victory, got back-to-back-shutouts to open a season for the first time since 1974. The Dodgers finished the series out with a 7–0 win the next day, joining the 1963 Cardinals as the only MLB teams to open the season with three straight shutouts. Kenta Maeda made his major league debut with six scoreless innings and also hit a home run in his second at bat, the first Dodger pitcher to homer in his debut since Dan Bankhead in 1947. The Dodgers also set a new team record with 27 scoreless innings to start the season, surpassing the 23 innings mark set by the 1974 team. The Dodgers traveled to AT&T Park for the next series against the San Francisco Giants. Behind Alex Wood they fell one inning short of the Cardinals season opening shutout streak of 32 when the Giants scored three in the fifth. The Dodger bullpen then allowed a bunch of runs, including a grand slam by Hunter Pence to pull away and the Giants won 12–6. Ross Stripling made his major league debut in the second game of the series. He pitched a no-hitter for innings but was taken out of the game with a two-run lead after walking a batter and reaching his 100th pitch. The relief pitcher, Chris Hatcher, gave up a two-run homer to the very next batter, Trevor Brown, to tie the game. Brandon Crawford hit a walk-off homer in the 10th as the Giants won 3–2. Kershaw pitched eight innings for the Dodgers in the following game, but allowed two solo homer and got a no-decision. The Dodgers came back to win the game on an RBI double by Charlie Culberson in the 10th inning, 3–2. In the final game of the road trip, the Dodgers scored five runs in the top of the first but saw the lead quickly disappear as Scott Kazmir allowed three homers and six total runs in only four innings. He was the first Dodgers pitcher to allow three homers to the Giants at San Francisco since Ismael Valdez in 1997. A two-run double by Joe Panik off reliever J. P. Howell in the sixth put the Giants up and they won 9–6.