Dodgers MLB update: late roster moves, spring training start dates, and why Los Angeles is doubling down on depth for 2026

The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading into spring training with the same headline they’ve worn for years, World Series expectations, and a roster that’s still actively being tuned. On Thursday, February 12, 2026, ET, the Dodgers made a cluster of moves that signal a clear strategy: keep the top-end talent intact, add flexible depth around it, and manage the pitching pipeline carefully as injuries linger.

With pitchers and catchers reporting Friday, February 13, 2026, ET, the timing matters. Clubs typically try to lock in the “last 10 percent” of roster construction right before camp opens so they can define roles early, avoid uncertainty in the clubhouse, and give the coaching staff clean lanes for spring competitions.

What changed today for the Dodgers

Several developments converged into a busy day:

• The Dodgers agreed to a deal that carries infielder Max Muncy through the 2027 season, adding guaranteed money and keeping a key power bat and clubhouse staple in the fold.

• Utilityman Kiké Hernández is returning on a one-year deal, reinforcing the team’s ability to mix and match defensively and cover multiple positions across a long season.

• The Dodgers traded left-handed reliever Anthony Banda to the Minnesota Twins, a move that thins one slice of bullpen depth but can reflect a roster crunch or a preference for different bullpen shapes.

• They also added infielder Keston Hiura on a minor-league contract, a low-risk bet on upside and right-handed power potential in camp.

None of these are franchise-altering alone. Together, they show a front office optimizing for the most common regular-season problem: the reality that you don’t reach October with your original plan intact.

Spring training dates that frame the next two weeks

For Dodgers fans tracking “who’s in camp” and “when do games start,” here are the key near-term markers in ET:

• Friday, February 13: first workouts for pitchers and catchers

• Tuesday, February 17: first full-squad workout

• Saturday, February 21: first Cactus League game (at the Angels)

The practical implication: roster competitions begin immediately for the back end of the bullpen, the final bench spot, and any open innings created by early-season injury management.

Behind the headline: why these moves scream “depth, not drama”

The Dodgers’ roster-building incentives are different from most of the league’s. A rebuilding team chases upside and playing time. A true contender chases redundancy.

Bringing back Hernández and keeping Muncy in place are not just “fan favorite” decisions. They reduce volatility. Hernández gives the manager a Swiss-army option when injuries hit, when matchups demand specific defense, or when a young player needs a soft landing rather than being forced into everyday duty. Muncy’s extension is the same logic at a higher level: preserve known production and avoid the cascading effects of a hole at a premium infield corner.

Trading Banda is also consistent with contender logic. Bullpens churn. Lefty relievers, in particular, can be easier to replace through internal development and waiver-wire attrition than everyday bats. A trade like that often means the Dodgers believe they have enough alternative looks, whether in-house arms, non-roster invites, or early-season shuttle options.

The injury context: why the bullpen and middle infield matter so much

The Dodgers are entering camp with real health questions that shape everything from roster spots to inning allocation.

Reliever Evan Phillips is continuing his recovery from Tommy John surgery that took place last summer, with a return more likely in the second half of 2026 than early in the season. That forces the Dodgers to plan for months without a trusted high-leverage arm, which increases the value of both depth and role flexibility.

Positionally, Tommy Edman’s recovery from ankle surgery has introduced uncertainty about his early-season availability. That matters because Edman-type players, versatile defenders who stabilize multiple positions, quietly reduce a team’s injury risk. When that stabilizer is questionable, the front office often responds by adding more “movable parts,” which is exactly what Hernández and a low-cost infield flyer can provide.

What we still don’t know

A few missing pieces will determine how smooth the Dodgers’ opening month looks:

• Whether Edman is ready for Opening Day, or whether the club needs a temporary infield alignment

• How the late-inning hierarchy settles without Phillips early on

• Whether any young arms force their way into meaningful bullpen roles by the end of March

• Whether the Dodgers make one more notable trade before camp pressure turns into roster decisions

What happens next: realistic scenarios to watch

1. A “depth wins” spring if Hernández quickly becomes the default plug-in for multiple positions and the bench becomes matchup-driven

2. A bullpen reshuffle if a young reliever or two claims high-leverage trust before the first road trip

3. Another trade if the Dodgers decide their current roster has too many similar pieces and not enough specialized ones

4. A conservative early-season pitching plan if the club prioritizes health over April workload, especially with key relievers returning later

The overarching theme is simple: the Dodgers are acting like a team that expects to play into late October. Today’s transactions aren’t about making headlines. They’re about reducing the number of ways a long season can break a contender.