Dodger Infield: Options Abound

                  Spring training starts in about two weeks. The Dodgers roster for the time being seems set. There could be other additions once players report since several pitchers will be placed on the 60-day IL. 20 minor leaguers have been invited to camp including #1 prospect Sasaki, and Dalton Rushing, the Dodgers top position prospect. 

                      One thing is for certain; the Dodgers have multiple options all around the infield. Thanks to the addition of Hae-Seong Kim, LA can play at least four different players at second base. Before he was traded, many thought that Gavin Lux would be given the starting nod. Kim as a major leaguer is an unknown, but his Korean league credentials are pretty impressive. .304 career BA there, and a gold glove second baseman.

                      First Base: Freddie Freeman is the primary first baseman. Easy choice. Dave Roberts would love to give Freeman a day off now and then, especially since the veteran is entering his age 34 season. He did not have a Freeman like season in 24. But he was injured and dealt with his young son’s illness, so if he was a little below par, he had all the excuses he needed. But that is not his way. He more than redeemed himself in the World Series. Freddie’s main backup will be Max Muncy. Muncy has shown he can handle the position ably. The emergency first baseman would be Will Smith who has exactly 1 game at the position in his career. Kike, who is not on the current roster, has played 43 games at the position. 

                     Second Base: According to the depth chart the first man up is Chris Taylor, then Betts, Kim and Edman. Rojas is also capable of playing the position. My belief is that the Dodgers hope Kim wins the spot in spring training. If the Dodgers were to acquire a CF, or give the spot to James Outman during spring, I suspect the starter would become Tommy Edman, who has a gold glove at the position from when he was with St. Louis. The only way I see Mookie Betts moving there is if they found a stud SS in trade, which at this point does not seem likely although many fans want the team to trade for someone like Bichette. 

                   Third Base: Until the team decides otherwise, third belongs to Max Muncy. Don’t get me wrong, there are more than a few third basemen who are much better with a glove than Max. But Max has improved enough to be very serviceable. But it is not his glove that keeps Max in the lineup. It is his power and his ability to get on base. Yes, he was injured much of the season, but when heathy, Max is an offensive force who can at times carry the team. His backups are Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas. 

                     Shortstop: Mookie Betts is the SS. The is where he wants to play, and the Dodgers will accommodate their superstar as long as he feels he can do the job, and actually does the job. Betts loves a challenge and becoming the everyday SS for the Dodgers at the age of 32 is exactly that. He moved there last season after Lux had challenges, and he did a decent job for someone who never had really played the position at the major league level. He moved to RF because that is where the team needed him. Mookie is the ultimate team player. But with Conforto-Pages in right, and Teo in LF, he will get to stay where he is for the foreseeable future. He has a very capable caddy in Rojas, with Taylor, Kim, and Edman, all having experience at SS. 

               There will be some young SS in camp, most notably, Alex Freeland. David Bote, who has played a lot at second and third in the majors will also be in camp along with utility man, Austin Gauthier. Other players like Zahir Hope, Kendall George, Josue De Paula, will also be on board. All in all, the Dodgers depth will be on display this spring in Arizona.