I no longer care whether Will Smith transitions to 3B or not. I personally do not think he can play 3B even at an adequate level, but if AF/BG do, then who am I to 2nd guess. But to draw a conclusion that Smith can transition to 3B simply because Mookie successfully transitioned to SS is fantasy (IMO).
Mookie was drafted as a SS, and was moved to 2B his first full year as a professional (2012). However, Mookie’s bat was special and Boston already had 4 X All Star Dustin Pedroia at 2B. Thus, Boston wanting to take advantage of the bat, moved Mookie to CF in 2014, but he still worked out at 2B every day. His choice. He never wanted to give up middle infield or his dream to play MLB SS. He continued to work the infield everyday as a Dodger. Mookie worked it. Where is there evidence that Smith has taken even one ground ball at 3B since 2021.
Pedroia started his very unfortunate and career ending injury run in 2014. Mookie came up to play some 2B (14 games) but also played CF (28 games). Mookie only played CF in 2015, and was switched to RF in 2016.
Mookie was not a bad defensive SS in 2024, but there were certainly deficiencies he needed to clean up. After returning from his broken hand, Doc/AF/BG decided to keep Miggy Ro at SS and push Mookie back to RF (and some 2B). Mookie continued to work hard with Miggy Ro to become a great SS, but he already had the acumen for a middle infielder. There was a foundation to work with.
Just because Mookie, who was always an infielder playing GG RF, does not give credence to Smith being able to play 3B. I do not get where this comes from. Smith’s minimal 3B play in MiLB was nothing short of bad – .891 Fielding %, 14 errors in 129 chances.
Smith played 1 game at 3B in college his freshman year. He has played 1 game at 3B in MLB…1 chance, 1 error. Smith is a catcher, not 3B. He might be able to transition to 1B once Freddie moves on. We saw how out of place Gavin Lux was at 3B/LF/CF and how out of place Joc was at 1B. Just because you can move a player does not mean you should.
Will Smith Baseball Reference Page including College and MiLB
- 2014 – College Freshman – 1 game
- 2016 MiLB – 8 games, 2 errors, 21 chances
- 2017 MiLB – 6 games, 2 errors, 5 chances
- 2018 MiLB – 43 games, 10 errors, 102 chances
- 2019 MiLB – 1 game, 0 errors, 1 chance
- 2021 MLB – 1 game (2 innings), 1 error, 1 chance
Why did Smith play as many games at 3B as he did? Just like Boston moving Mookie to OF to get his bat in the lineup, the Dodgers were trying to get Smith and Keibert Ruiz in the same lineup. Smith was a better option at 3B than was Ruiz. That experiment apparently failed as Ruiz was traded at the 2021 deadline. AF/BG chose correctly by jettisoning Ruiz and keeping Smith. AF/BG signed Smith to a team friendly 10 year deal at $140MM to be their catcher.
As far as blocking 100 MPH one hoppers, the fact is that Smith has the 2nd worst PB/WP in MLB with 48. He is -3 blocking per statcast (22nd percentile). He is in the 2nd percentile for framing. Smith will never be a GG C, but he does more than enough behind the plate; has a good rapport with the pitchers and is good at pitch sequencing and game management. He also throws out would be base stealers as long as the pitchers give him a chance. That is his strength as a catcher. Plus, he has a great bat. You find a catcher who can hit .901 OPS, you keep him there.
We are so into moving All Stars around the diamond, let’s move Smith to LF and put Andy Pages and his great arm at 3B, with Rushing at C. Bill Russell and Davey Lopes made to transition from OF to SS/2B respectively. Evidence that it can be done, why not Pages?
Putting Rushing at 3B makes more sense to me than moving an All Star catcher who has never demonstrated an ability to play 3B.
Fun – Leave Smith at C, and get Ceddanne Rafaela to play CF for LAD. He just turned 25. In my speculative world, I can find a worthy 3B.
Totally agree with that assessment. Former Angel SS, David Fletcher has decided to retire. He is 31 years old.
He had a nice little career. Fletcher impressed enough early with the Angels for Minassian to give him a contract that bought out some arbitration years.
Last I heard, David was trying to convert to pitching as a knuckleballer, while his brother Darrin is playing for the White Sox.
The only place I have ever seen anyone talking about Smith moving from C to 3B is Timmons at LADT. I like the idea of grooming him to move to 1B when Freddie moves on.
I’m fine with it if the Dodgers decide to do it. They know more than I do about these things so if they decide to do it who am I to judge?
“and get Ceddanne Rafaela to play CF for LAD”
Gold Glove winner recently extended? Yeah. That would be fun.
Several posters on here have made the suggestion, but you are correct. Mark is a huge advocate of moving Will there.
I’m not in favor of moving Smith to 1B when Freddie leaves because (A) he’s already shown he’s not great at blocking pitches in the dirt so that leads me to believe he won’t be great at saving throws in the dirt from the other infielders, and to me that’s the first baseman’s most important job; and (B) I like my first basemen to at least be average height so that they have a better shot of grabbing high throws. Will is only 5’10”.
With regard to Rafaela, most reports I’ve read seem to think the Sox are far more likely to trade Duran or Abreu than they are Rafaela. As we went into last season, I thought our offense would be so good that we could easily afford a centerfielder who didn’t hit much. Now, I’m not so sure. Rafaela has a lifetime OPS in the high .600’s and a lifetime OPS+ of 89. Not even league average.
Rafaela’s appeal is his platinum-level defense. That’s why the Red Sox love him so much.
Come to think of it, his defense probably plays up in Fenway because of its unusual dimensions. The symmetry of Dodger Stadium helps a guy like Pages.
Did I just talk myself out of dealing for Rafaela? Maybe so.
So perhaps the Dodgers should offer Teo for Wilyer Abreu. Pages could stay in CF, and Abreu’s gold glove would replace Teo’s lead glove in RF.
Of course, a big fat check for Kyle Tucker is also an option.
Put yourself in Boston’s chiar. WOuld you accept a Teo for Wilyer Abtreu? Not a prayer.
So you negotiate.
What do the Red Sox need? Pitching, perhaps?
How about Teo + Wrobleski or ??? for Abreu…
I bet there are plenty of Dodger pitchers that would intrigue the Red Sox. If you think it’s overpay, the Red Sox could toss back a lottery ticket.
While I see a lot of possible deals with the Red Sox, I’m now more intrigued by a deal for Byron Buxton and his team-friendly contract, assuming he’d waive (or sell) his no-trade clause to join the mighty Dodgers.
I would like to see the Dodgers look into Kazumo Okamoto for 3B instead of Murakami.
There’s almost nobody scheduled to be a FA and play 3B next offseason. Might have to address it a year early.
100% agree, O.D. I definitely don’t want us to sign Murakami. He could turn out to be the next coming of Babe Ruth, but I think the odds are far greater that the team which signs him will regret it. Far too many k’s and he’s a well below average fielder. No thank you.
Okamoto seems to be a better fielder (although no Gold Glover) and a better bat to ball guy. If we’re going to sign either of the two, my vote is for Okamoto.
In the Dodgers philosophy Ks don’t seem to be too big of a deal, but I would hate to see us bring in a sub par defender at third.
Yep Keith, I can live with the strikeouts more than the poor defense.
Of course we’ll just have to trust the Dodgers brass on Murakami and Okamoto. No doubt they’ve scouted both thoroughly.
The Dodgers could certainly pass on both, as Max is under contract for ’26. There’s no urgency to fill the position. I hope the front office is also considering the trade market.
Okamoto, at 30 and with less of a reputation, would be much cheaper.
But Murakami, at 25, is considered the best Japanese slugger since Shohei. Big power, plenty of Ks, shoddy defense. He has the higher upside.
If the Dodgers go after him, he’s likely be a bench player in ’26, perhaps eased along like Kim was in ’25. Time in OKC could help acclimate him. He could be successor to either Max or Freddie.
If the Dodger brass believes in Murakami, they’d need to pounce this winter.
The last thing we need is another high strikeout, bad defense player.
Looks like Buxton might be in play.
Damn. Dodgers put Rortvedt on waivers and he was claimed by the Reds. So much for his being the perfect backup for Will.
I wonder if this means Rushing is definitely not going anywhere?
In other news, Gonsolin went unclaimed and is now a free agent.
That is a shock to me. Rortvedt was the epitome of a backup catcher. Since the Dodgers have absolutely 0 catchers in their organization, I gues Rushing is now a backup catcher. I hope he is happy with that role.
The Dodgers have now lost their best trade option in Rushing. That blows my whole trade scenario out the window. The Dodgers have one MLB ready poistion player in the organization, Alex Freeland. No other infielders, no outfielders, no catchers. I wonder what they can get for Landon Knack, Bobby Miller, Maddux Bruns, Nick Frasso, Jackson Ferris, Alex Call…
It is going to be deep pockets again this year.
It’s weird. Rortvedt is on the playoff roster but then waived two weeks after the World Series. If you’re going to get rid of him you would think some trade could have been done.
Rushing had a bone bruise that created the opportunity for Rortvedt. The Dodgers probably hoped Rortvedt, who was out of options, would clear waivers.
Apparently Rortvedt is a close friend of Gavin Lux. Now they’ll be teammates in Cincy.
Good for Rortvedt.
It seems that, in the past anyway, backup catchers are readily available. I think the Dodgers could still trade Rushing in the right scenario and not suffer from his absence.
It should, but they just signed a catcher who was at AAA to a minor league deal. Alonzo. Tony Gonsolin just opted for free agency. I hope he goes to the other league. Best of luck Catman.
Losing Rortvedt hurts to me. He seemed like he fit in really well, really quickly, AND was excellent in handling the staff. A perfect backup catcher.
It also could mean Rushing is less likely to be traded now, and perhaps he’ll get more playing time at catcher (and maybe LF?)
Maybe one of Will’s weakness (pitch framing) goes away automatic balls/ strikes begins.
I’m probably in the minority but I believe Smith Can play an adequate 3rd base or left field. I think of Russell Martin, Joe Torre at third or Yogi Berra in left field, Without any evidence I believe in my heart that Smith is a better athlete than those three. If they start working with him after the turn of the year and give him spring training I’m confident that Smith down the road could begin the transition.Whether it will be third base or left field will be much easier on his body.
I’m not at all surprised, to this point at least, the Dodgers have committed to Rushing being the back-up to Smith.
The team needs to start advancing their home grown and developed players and Rushing will be a big part of that along with the need to get younger. He will learn a new position or two and be serviceable as a replacement like Barnes could play 2B on occasion. No, I am not saying Rushing will start anywhere than catcher or on occasion 1B but he will learn another position.
His bat will be a major league bat and we will appreciate holding onto him. Then again, AF may go to the winter meetings and use him in a package.
The Giants are going to hire Blue Jays assistant hitting coach Hunter Mense as their hitting coach. That should help the Giants bats. That’s okay, the Dodgers still have RVS and his pull side power approach. Forget that the Dodgers will be another year older, and the swings are going to get a little longer and loopier.
It seems the only hope for change is for the Dodgers (and by extension RVS also) to “see the light” and realize they must emphasize contact more than pull side power in their approach to hitting. But I doubt this happens.
It won’t. The Dodgers have been very successful with their approach. Even with that two month schneid they led the NL in runs scored and were second in OPS+. It would appear they have a plethora of starting pitching so pick both the outfielder and reliever wanted and away we go..
Paul Skenes is the NL Cy Young winner, it was unanimous. Yoshi finished 3rd. Skubal won the AL honor. MVP award will be handed out tomorrow. After losing Rortvedt to the Reds, LA’s roster sits at 39.
Will be an interesting few weeks coming up.
I think we want Tucker but are playing it cool.
LA will only sign Tucker if he takes a shorter term higher AAV contract. Say 4/175.
Well, Dalton Rushing is still the backup catcher.
Rortvedt was waived and picked up by the Reds. Vaya con dios, champ!
So the odds of Rushing being dealt are now quite slim. I would love to see the Dodgers work out a plan to get him in the lineup more often, with perhaps more rest for Freddie.
The good news is that the front office still believes in Rushing. Rortvedt’s sudden prominence had me wondering about that. The bad news is that it’s harder to include Rushing in my blockbuster fantasies for Buxton.
As for 3B, I’ve long advocated that Rushing get training at the position. Smith is an all-star catcher in his prime, and if it isn’t broke…
We know that Rushing can catch and play 1B. Adding another position would only make him more valuable, and Max will need a successor before long.
I love the idea of Buxton making this superteam even superior. But he wouldn’t make it younger. So I also love the idea of Rafaela too, providing platinum-level defense for years to come.
If I ran the Red Sox, I’d happily accept Teo as my new DH and also demand a couple of ML-proven arms, like Sheehan, Stone, River Ryan, Wrobleski, Casparius, Bobby Miller. The Red Sox could toss back a young prospect to balance the values.
At any rate, the Dodgers and Red Sox should be talking. Seems like a few win-win deals could be cooked up.
I tend to agree with you but just because Rortveldt got picked up doesn’t mean we can’t trade for him or some other backup catcher in a package deal.
I don’t know, but perhaps Rortvedt requested his release so he could control his next destination.
He wound up joining his buddy Gavin Lux with the Reds
I actually agree with your premise that Freddie get a day off once a week, as he is older. The same can be said for Max, Teo (if he’s still here), and Mookie.
Rushing can give Smith 1-2 days off a week, Freddie a day off a week, perhaps play LF if needed. Freeland can play 3b, SS, 2b. Let the young guys get some run!
You are assuming that Freeland is going to make the team. I think he is going to have to wow management come spring training. He and Ward are going to have a long runway to show their stuff.
Ward clobbered AAA pitching last year. Freeland didn’t. Not really. Ward is three years older, so, there’s that.
I don’t believe the Dodgers trust either of them enough to give them a roster spot. Freeland didn’t do a whole lot with his 97 plate appearances. I think it’s likely Ward is gone and Freeland starts the year in Oklahoma again.
I think Jeff’s right when he says it’s going to be deep pockets again. I believe the Dodgers are going to fill the 26 with proven Major League players.
News from around the league: A’s signed Nick Anderson to a minor league deal. Rays returned rule 5 pick Nate Lavender to the Mets. Rays released 1st baseman Bob Seymour so he could sign in Asia. At least seven teams have inquired about the availability of the D-Backs Ketel Marte. Tatsuya Imai will be posted by his team, the Seibu Lions on the 19th of November. Orioles named Donnie Ecker to be their bench coach. Tigers DFAd Alex Lange. Twins added Grady Sizemore to their coaching staff. Reds GM says they will NOT be trading Hunter Greene. Reds, Mets and Dodgers showing interest in Devin Williams. Mets also showing interest in Cody Bellinger. Phillies are making CF, Johan Rojas available in trade conversations. Great glove, not so great bat. Austin Nola hired as the Mariners bullpen coach. Mets have been approached by several teams about the availability of Kodai Senga.
Williams is more in line with how the Dodgers operate. They can buy low and hope for a turnaround. Given how the coaching staff made corrections to Sasaki’s pitching, perhaps they can fix Williams as well (assuming he needs fixing).
Williams finished the year strong. He may not need fixing.
Just let them fix Tanner Scott!
So it’s time to look forward to 26 whilst basking in the glory of consecutive WS wins.
”Pigs” was a favourite word at about this time last year, and it certainly appears that we are in a position to eat well for a while longer.
However as crazy as it seems to criticise a double winner, I see problems ahead, especially in our Offence.
I was thinking that it’s incredible that we won it all in 25 given the poor performance of our hitters who under performed over the season, and especially the Post Season (Will Smith excluded).
I realise that players have ups and downs but really how many of them are we expecting to get better, or have better numbers in 26?
Shohei’s numbers dropped off in 25 after he took to the mound again. He’s gonna pitch more in 26.
Mookie had a bad year, found it for a bit, then disappeared in the Playoffs. Is playing SS detracting from his bat?
Freddie never found his stroke and appears that Father Time and injuries have taken their toll?
Will, was a revelation given less playing time, and having a couple of days off, and then a longer spell caused by his hand injury. Hopefully a similar outcome in 26.
Max was Max when available. Can’t imagine an improvement at this stage of his career.
Teo. Big drop Off on both sides of the ball.
Pages – was excellent until he wasn’t. And he really wasn’t. What will 26 bring?
Edman – poor numbers and now surgery. The future is cloudy.
Kike and Miguel if they are still around, are they likely to put up better numbers?
So who among them do we expect to improve? Mookie possibly, Freddie might be healed but a year older. Teo? Max?
Personally I just don’t see it. These guys are not young men. I see a decline.
I think we need a couple of young bats to give the offence a shot in the arm, if not I see more of the same numbers. Time to invest.
Watford, we need trade ideas!
My three goals: Preserve the core, improve the defense, get younger.
The “pigs” approach is obvious: Sign Kyle Tucker.
Agree with Watford, and add that the Dodgers were very fortunate to win the WS. If we lost, many of Watford’s player summaries would be urgent needs, not “Let’s sit back, add a player or two and see what happens.”
FWIW, I was never that impresed with Bill Russell at SS.
He was much better playing center for the Celtics.
Yeah, Russell wasn’t Ozzie but he rebounded well.
Watford’s analysis sounds accurate but makes me wonder how the hell a team with that many issues led the NL in runs scored, was second in OPS and won a World Championship. As bad as they were, and they were among the league leaders in summer stank, they still ended on top of 29 other teams. So, whatever they’re doing, I would encourage them to keep doing it.
Haha
yes this is very true.
What do I know. Just feels we are trending the wrong way.
Our starting pitching was great up until the World Series. All four starters Yama, Ohtani, snell, Glasnow were very good until the World Series. The pen was not good in particular Sheehan, treinen, Banda, were awful and Sasaki mostly good. The offense provided just enough but no breakout games,
in the World Series it was Yamamoto n Glasnow with Ohtani and snell underperforming. Bullpen still bad except the 18 inning game. Sasaki below par. The offense did just enough. Ohtani had one great game n Muncy had a very good game 7. Otherwise no one got hot. Rojas a heavy contributor on both sides of the ball n will smith clutch again.
if you had to grade:
starting pitching c Yamamoto A
bullpen c-
offense c
defense c much poor defense but great plays as well
the difference was Yamamoto plus we out homered them with timely d.
Going into next year our starters appear to be the strength. The offense needs improvement. The defense needs improvement. One really good player could improve both. The bullpen could be vastly improved through health, better performance from what we have, and 1 good reliable reliever.
Buxton and Williams!
Just read that Buxton, who signed a long-term deal long ago, has three years left on his contract for a total of $45 million.
Assuming that report is accurate, that’s a steal for an all-star caliber CF even if we factor in injury risk. Buxton had a strong ’25: an .848 OPS with 35 HRs in 126 games. In contrast, Tucker hit to an .841 OPS with 22 HRs in 136 games.
Buxton is now 31. While he wouldn’t make the Dodgers a lot younger, he could hold down an OF spot for a few years while the Dodgers’ top OF prospects mature. Kyle Tucker, by contrast, is estimated to command an AAV salary in the $35-40m range for the next 8 years or so. That kind of commitment would limit the Dodgers’ flexibility and increase the payroll tax.
So a smarter way to be pigs might be to “overpay” in prospects for Buxton because his contract would actually help the Dodgers contain costs. AF could save his FA budget for relievers Williams, Iglesias and Rogers, and perhaps an import like Murakami or Okimato.
What do the Twins need? A lot–but the Dodgers can offer a lot.
The Dodgers could offer Teo and agree to cover part of his salary. Add a couple of young arms from a list that includes Sheehan, Wrobleski, Casparius, Knack, Bobby Miller–all with ML experience. Maybe include Ryan Ward and one of the younger OF prospects like Hope or Kendall George. Perhaps the Twins could toss back a lottery ticket to balance values.
Would the Twins insist on Rushing? Do they have a good backup catcher they could offer in return? The Dodgers have about a ten “untouchables,” I think, but Rushing isn’t one of them. Everything’s negotiable.
Anyway….
Shohei DH
Mookie SS
Freddie 1B
Buxton CF
Smith C
Max/Okimato 3B
Pages RF
Call LF
Kim 2B
If Kim can hold down 2B, Edman would be free to back up Buxton in CF and Mookie at SS, helping them stay healthy. Rojas could be a partial platoon partner for Max and also play some SS and 2B. Rushing should get about 45 starts at C and 20 at 1B, because Freddie is not getting younger..
Call may not be ideal in LF–but I bet he’ll be a lot better than Conforto.
If the Twins don’t want Teo, perhaps he could play LF or factor into a trade for Kwan or Duran…
Yeah, the piggish Dodgers could still just write a fat check for Tucker. But that would be boring.