3 Dodgers Players Who Won't Be Back Next Season

Los Angeles pulled off a stunning World Series win in extra innings, the kind of finish that cements legacies and fuels parade routes. 

But even for a champion, the offseason brings tough choices. As the Los Angeles Dodgers aim for a three-peat in 2026, three familiar faces are set to move on.

Clayton Kershaw

Kershaw’s farewell came with the perfect ending: a ring, a strong final season, and the love of a fanbase he defined for nearly two decades. 

With retirement already announced, the Dodgers will celebrate his legacy while pivoting to a rotation built around Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and emerging depth. 

Replacing the presence is impossible; replacing the innings is the priority.

Clayton Kershaw’s legendary career officially comes to an end. 👏

⚾️ 2014 MVP
⚾️ 2011 Triple Crown
⚾️ 3x World Series champ ('20, '24, '25)
⚾️ Gold Glove Winner
⚾️ 3x Cy Young award winner
⚾️ 11x All-Star pic.twitter.com/kpmXQyA8cm

— ESPN (@espn) November 2, 2025

My god this is an incredible moment between Clayton Kershaw and his family after the following game of his career ♥️

Going out a champion pic.twitter.com/NETZipbcC9

— Baseball Quotes (@BaseballQuotes1) November 2, 2025

Michael Conforto

The Conforto bet didn’t land. After signing a one-year, $17M deal, a below-average offensive year and no postseason role, both sides benefit from a reset. 

With internal options and a star-studded core locked in, Los Angeles can reallocate corner-outfield at-bats to hotter hands or explore external additions without tying up dollars on a bounce-back gamble.

According to PFSN's WAR Impact Metric, only one MLB team is set to lose less talent to free agency than the Dodgers 📋

• Michael Conforto | 5.33
• Michael Kopech | 0.52
• Kirby Yates | -0.23
• Miguel Rojas | -2.50
• Andrew Heaney | -2.66
• Enrique Hernández | -5.31
•… pic.twitter.com/ED9fAQHDy6

— PFSN (@PFSN365) November 2, 2025

Kirby Yates

Yates arrived to be a leverage arm and instead became a headache in a relief unit that rode turbulence all season. 

With late-inning reliability at a premium, the Dodgers are poised to refresh this spot. Expect the front office to chase swing-and-miss and strike-throwing stability while trusting returning anchors to rebound.

Couldn't tell from the press box who was at the center of the second dust-up that started. Looks like it was Kirby Yates. pic.twitter.com/rzUwDhZoss

— Dodger Blue (@DodgerBlue1958) November 2, 2025

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images