BALTIMORE, MD – SEPTEMBER 05: A general view of the Los Angeles Dodgers logo on an equipment bag in the dugout before the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on September 5, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Getty Images
The Los Angeles Dodgers broke their undefeated streak to start the season on Monday, when they fell to the Cleveland Guardians, but they’re still a strong bet to win the most games in Major League Baseball this season.
On paper, the team has only gotten stronger following its second straight championship last year. The Dodgers added All-Star closer Edwin Diaz and five-tool outfielder Kyle Tucker to a star-studded roster. And perhaps the most notable player they’ve lost is long-time starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw.
But even Karshaw will be pitching in as the Dodgers seek a “three-peat” this season.
“The three-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time World Series champion is officially back with the organization as a special assistant,” The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reported. “The left-hander accepted the offer that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman offered the moment Kershaw’s 18-year playing career came to an end after last year’s World Series triumph over the Toronto Blue Jays.”
The specifics of Kershaw’s role haven’t been publicly clarified as of this writing, but the organization can certainly benefit from Kershaw’s perspective as a three-time Cy Young Award winner and three-time World Series champion.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Former Slugger Joins New York Mets In New Role
And as Kershaw lends his expertise to the Dodgers, one of his former teammates has decided to offer his own to a National League rival.
“The New York Mets have hired six-time All-Star J.D. Martinez as a special assistant to baseball operations, the team announced Tuesday, two years after Martinez joined the organization as a player,” per ESPN’s Jorge Castillo. “Martinez, 38, has not announced his retirement, but he has not played since the 2024 season when he appeared in 120 games for the Mets and served as a clubhouse leader for a team that made an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series.”
Though Martinez last played for the Mets, and he is probably best remembered for the five All-Star nods and two Silver Slugger Awards he earned in his time with the Boston Red Sox, Dodgers fans will remember him for his All-Star campaign with Los Angeles in 2023.
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Former All-Star JD Martinez Helped Mookie Betts With Slump Last Year
That season, Martinez slashed .271/.321/.572 with 33 home runs and 103 RBI. He was well respected by his teammates for his insight in the batter’s box, and he worked personally with Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts last season to help him overcome some batting struggles.
But now that Martinez has taken a former role with the Mets, his old Dodgers teammates might not be welcomed to call on him for any more help moving forward.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/04/01/dodgers-former-all-star-returns-to-mlb-to-help-nl-rival/
