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5 Changes Los Angeles Dodgers Must Make In 2015

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5 Changes Los Angeles Dodgers Must Make In 2015

Atlanta Braves v Los Angeles Dodgers - Game Four
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What looked to be a promising season for the Dodgers -- a team that could have realistically won the World Series -- has ended in a disastrous results. The Blue Crew were dumped out of the NL Division Series by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Dodgers weaknesses were thoroughly exposed in the playoffs and here are the changes they must make in 2015.

5. Improve Payroll

Clayton Kershaw: Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Four
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5. Improve Payroll

Clayton Kershaw: Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Four
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The Dodgers' payroll has ballooned out of control in 2014. Los Angeles has surpassed even the money-printing New York Yankees. This is the first time since 1998 that any team in MLB has surpassed the Yankees. The Dodgers' payroll is approximately $235 million compared to the $208 million the Yankees have spent.

4. Sack Don Mattingly

Don mattingly: Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Three
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4. Sack Don Mattingly

Don mattingly: Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Three
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Don Mattingly might have been the biggest problem for the Dodgers in the playoffs. The losses by Kershaw should go on the manager and not the pitcher. Mattingly leaving Puig on the bench and opting for Andre Ethier worried all blue-bleeding Dodgers fans. Mattingly has proven to be tactically inept and the Dodgers front office should bring in a more capable manager.

3. Strengthen Bullpen

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Four
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3. Strengthen Bullpen

Division Series - Los Angeles Dodgers v St Louis Cardinals - Game Four
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The Blue Crew left it all on Clayton Kershaw for the playoffs. Don Mattingly left the ace in for too long against the Cardinals. If the Dodgers had a reliable bullpen to go to, Kershaw would have been saved and the Dodgers could have at least won Game 1 and maybe even Game 4 of the NL Divisional Series.

2. Get Good Fifth Starter

Roberto Hernandez: Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers
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2. Get Good Fifth Starter

Roberto Hernandez: Colorado Rockies v Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers need to improve upon their starting rotation by acquiring a reliable fifth starter. Roberto Hernandez is not on par with the rest of the starters and the Chavez Ravine will smile upon the addition of a genuine starting pitcher. The trade for Hernandez did not work out for the Dodgers after they traded away two promising prospects Victor Arano and Jesmuel Valentin, further depleting the Dodgers' farm system.

1. Trade an Outfielder

Andre Etheir, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp: Milwaukee Brewers v. Los Angeles Dodgers
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1. Trade an Outfielder

Andre Etheir, Carl Crawford, Matt Kemp: Milwaukee Brewers v. Los Angeles Dodgers
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There are only three spots in the outfield for a baseball team to field. The Dodgers have four capable outfielders in their roster. With a ballooning payroll, the Dodgers will be well served to get rid of an outfielder not named Puig. Right now, Carl Crawford and Matt Kemp are on the books for $21 million, with Andre Etheir making $15.5 million.

Yoshiki Matsunaga is a soccer writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter yoshikimat, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.

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