How the NL-winning Dodgers were built

The Los Angeles Dodgers will play in the World Series for the first time since they won the 2020 title during the shortened campaign. It will also be their fourth appearance in the Fall Classic since 2017.

Here's how the Dodgers constructed their star-studded roster.

The team below is based on the active roster for the National League Championship Series. The date in parenthesis denotes the time of acquisition.

Homegrown

Will Smith (June 9, 2016): Smith is one of baseball's top catchers and has become a mainstay behind the dish since the Dodgers selected him 32nd overall. The 29-year-old ranks third in homers and eighth in fWAR among the franchise's all-time catchers after just six big-league seasons.

Walker Buehler (June 8, 2015): Buehler was one of the Dodgers' top starters before elbow injuries sidetracked his career for nearly two years. He struggled in 2024 but showed in Game 3 of the NLCS that he's still capable of dominant performances.

Gavin Lux (June 9, 2016): Lux was one of baseball's most heralded prospects after the Dodgers took him 20th overall, but he's struggled with consistency at the big-league level with a career .709 OPS (96 OPS+). He missed most of the NLCS due to a hip injury.

Andy Pages (International free agent in 2018): Pages signed with the Dodgers out of Cuba and performed well in the minor leagues before making his big-league debut in April. He showed promise during his rookie campaign and hit two homers in Game 5 of the NLCS.

Landon Knack (June 11, 2020): Knack was a second-round pick by the Dodgers who made his big-league debut this season. He authored a 3.65 ERA in 69 innings while serving as both a starter and reliever.

Ben Casparius (July 12, 2021): The Dodgers nabbed Casparius in the fifth round. He slowly rose through their minor-league system and got his first taste of the bigs this year. The right-hander looked sharp in 8 1/3 regular-season innings and has continued to pitch well in the playoffs with 4 1/3 scoreless frames.

Edgardo Henriquez (International free agent in 2018): The 22-year-old Venezuelan began 2024 in A-ball and soared to the majors with ridiculous strikeout numbers (88 Ks in 53 innings). His high K-rate earned him a spot on the postseason roster.

Trade

Mookie Betts (February 10, 2020): Betts was acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox before the 2020 campaign. The eight-time All-Star and 2018 MVP has maintained his status as one of baseball's top players during his time in Los Angeles, winning numerous awards and finishing top five in MVP voting three times.

Tommy Edman (July 29, 2024): Edman was picked up at this year's trade deadline in a three-team swap with the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals. The NLCS MVP gives the Dodgers a versatile defender and adds length to their already potent lineup.

Jack Flaherty (July 30, 2024): The Dodgers acquired Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers for two prospects at the trade deadline. The right-hander has at times looked like an ace for Los Angeles, and he tallied seven shutout frames against the Mets during Game 1 of the NLCS.

Enrique Hernández (December 11, 2014): Hernandez is in his third stint with the Dodgers after a couple of seasons with the Red Sox. He's been clutch in the playoffs and boasts 15 career postseason homers, including two this year.

Michael Kopech (July 29, 2024): Kopech was acquired in the same three-way deal as Edman. He was brilliant in a late-inning role following the trade, authoring a 1.13 ERA and 10.9 K/9 with six saves in 24 innings. He's continued to perform well in the playoffs, allowing one earned run in 5 1/3 frames.

Chris Taylor (June 19, 2016): Taylor was acquired from the Seattle Mariners for pitcher Zach Lee nearly a decade ago. The versatile defender has hit more than 100 homers for the Dodgers and appeared in close to 1,000 games.

Anthony Banda (May 17, 2024): The Dodgers purchased Banda from the Cleveland Guardians two months into the 2024 campaign. The southpaw has gotten the Dodgers out of a lot of jams and is a reliable high-leverage option for Dave Roberts out of the bullpen.

Kevin Kiermaier (July 30, 2024): Kiermaier was picked up at the trade deadline from the Toronto Blue Jays for lefty Ryan Yarbrough. He's mostly served as a fourth outfielder and late-inning defensive replacement.

Austin Barnes (December 11, 2014): Barnes has filled the back-up catcher's role for a decade after coming over in a trade from the Miami Marlins. He only appeared in 54 regular-season games this season and has one playoff appearance under his belt this year.

Free agent

Shohei Ohtani (December 11, 2023): The Dodgers signed Ohtani to a record $700-million contract before the start of the season. The superstar put together MLB's first-ever 50-50 campaign and is expected to win the third MVP of his career. Winning a World Series in his first season with the Dodgers would be the icing on the cake for baseball's best player.

Freddie Freeman (March 18, 2022): Freeman joined his home-state Dodgers before the 2022 campaign after spending 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. He's made the All-Star team every year since and finished top four in MVP voting in each of the last two seasons.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (December 27, 2023): Yamamoto inked the richest contract ever signed by a pitcher after a remarkable career in Japan. The right-hander battled injuries during his rookie campaign but still posted a 3.00 ERA in 90 innings.

Teoscar Hernández (January 12, 2024): Hernández bet on himself in the offseason, signing a one-year, $23.5-million deal after he failed to find a multi-year contract he liked. The move paid off, as the outfielder hit a career-high 33 homers along with 99 RBIs during an All-Star campaign.

Max Muncy (April 28, 2017): Muncy signed with the Dodgers after the Oakland Athletics released him in 2017. He's since become a fixture in L.A.'s lineup, hitting 190 homers and posting an .843 OPS in the regular season. He recently set a postseason record by reaching base in 12 consecutive plate appearances.

Blake Treinen (December 15, 2019): Treinen signed with the Dodgers five years ago and has put up elite numbers. The 36-year-old's ERA in a Dodgers uniform is 2.29, which includes a 1.93 mark this season. He's also been lights out in this year's playoffs, allowing one earned run in eight innings.

Daniel Hudson (December 1, 2021): The 37-year-old continues to defy Father Time. He's pitching in his 15th season despite undergoing Tommy John surgery twice. The right-hander looked good this year, tossing his highest number of innings (63) since 2019.

Ryan Braiser (June 4, 2023): Brasier signed with the Dodgers as a free agent after he was released by the Red Sox. The right-hander has been brilliant for Los Angeles, posting a 1.89 ERA in 68 outings.

Waivers

Evan Phillips (August 16, 2021): Phillips was claimed from the Tampa Bay Rays and has become a dependable high-leverage reliever. He's only allowed three hits in 6 2/3 innings this postseason.

Brent Honeywell (July 13, 2024): The Dodgers claimed Honeywell off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The screwball specialist had a solid regular season after he came to Los Angeles and has given his club some much-needed length in the playoffs.