r/Dodgers • u/MookieBettsBurner11 • 11h ago
What to do about the infield long-term? Thoughts on anyone to sign or trade for, or even call up?
One concern the team needs to address is the infield. Max Muncy and Freddie Freeman are getting old and their contracts will expire after next year. Mookie is getting up there in age, and we had a revolving door at 2B.
Within the farm, Emil Morales James Tibbs III and Chase Harlan are guys to keep an eye on. Tibbs is likely ready to be called up next year and could be Freddie's successor. Morales is listed as a SS but there are questions as to whether he can stay there long-term, and Harlan may or may not be ready by 2028.
This year's FA class is one of the weakest we've seen. Makes sense with the impending lockout. Most of the high-end hitters hitting FA are outfielders. For the infield, Luis Arraez is available, but he strikes me as someone that Friedman wouldn't get. One intriguing FA imo though is Ha Seong Kim. Dude just came off a really bad season putting up -0.8 WAR and will almost certainly be looking to sign a cheap 1-year prove-it deal. However his ceiling is clearly there as an elite gold glove-caliber Shortstop and someone who can get on base. He should be cheap. If we sign him, we can move Mookie back to 2B.
Another potential option is signing Brandon Lowe. The problem with Lowe however, is that he will be asking for the bag, and his chase and whiff rate are an issue. In addition, he is already 32 years old.
One potential dark horse move is trading for Elly De La Cruz, but he has 3 years of control left and could be pricey prospect-wise.
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u/BurnerAcctObvs Yoshinobu Yamamoto 9h ago
My wishlist is Elly De LA Cruz
I think he would become a superstar in LA with the support the org provides. He is speedy, manufactures runs, and is a good dude.
Slide Tommy into left, keep Pages at Center, Tucker in right. Max at 3rd, Mookie to 2nd, and Freddy at 1st. Will behind the dish
This, to me, is the scarier lineup than what they have now
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u/ProcessTruster Shohei Ohtani 6h ago
I expect Elly will eventually be put on the trading block and not allowed to leave for nothing, so Andrew Friedman should probably plan ahead to trade for him at the first opportunity when the asking price is not too steep.
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u/Aravinda82 9h ago
He’s a bad SS
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u/BurnerAcctObvs Yoshinobu Yamamoto 8h ago
You're not wrong that SOME of his underlying stats in Cincinnati aren't good, but there's a lot to unpack with all that. He had a lot of action at his position, which suggests pitching was mid (spoiler: Cincinnati pitching is mid.)
That's why I say, "I think he would become a superstar in LA with the support the org provides." I believe him working with a guy like Dino Ebel would catapult him to stardom
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u/Aravinda82 8h ago edited 8h ago
Him being bad while getting a lot of action at the position, meaning getting a lot of reps, is not a good thing. He’s had a ton of reps that he should have shown much more improvement by now. He should be helping the pitching with his defense, not the other way around. There’s no denying his talent with the bat but SS and CF are the 2 positions where you have to be good defensively, at least average to above average.
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u/jujubats10 Max Muncy 9h ago
Where in the world does JDP play in this scenario ?
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u/BurnerAcctObvs Yoshinobu Yamamoto 9h ago edited 9h ago
Why should he play in this scenario?
His defense is indefensible. He has a lot of work to do before he’s ready to play defense in the MLB. And one offseason of work is not going to be enough
In 2-ish years, I can see it. And they probably yo-yo him up and down throughout the season next year. He’s an offensive gem, no doubt, but is deficient in the field.
From JDP himself: "I know that’s a big area of improvement for me. I know I got a lot of hate on it. I’m that type: if I get hate on it, I’m going to focus on it more. So I’m gonna shut a lot of people up with my defense very soon. It’s gonna take some time.”
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u/MarcBulldog88 Orel Hershiser 9h ago
De Paula isn't going to play anywhere if he doesn't learn how to field. We have DH locked up for 7 more years. There's a nonzero chance he's tradebait this winter after having shown everyone his batting potential.
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u/commie90 Kiké Hernández 8h ago
Teruaki Sato has trained with Mookie in the offseason. I think there’s a real chance we make a move to land him when he gets posted. Have him and Muncy share 3B duties while adjusts to MLB. Muncy being 36 is, unfortunately, probably nearing the end of his career. Especially with his injury issues the last few years. So it’d make sense to get a guy like Sato to take over once Muncy is done and/or moves to a bench player role.
Edit: for those unaware, Sato is likely the next big player from Japan. He won the triple crown this year and MVP last year. Plays for the Hanshin Tigers.
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u/Average1218er Teoscar Hernandez 9h ago
Gunnar Henderson, high upside but struggled last year. Orioles prime time to trade him as he enters arbitration and get good value for him
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u/solidstate42 Yoshinobu Yamamoto 8h ago
My dream new 1B would be TJ Rumfield to replace Freeman when he retires
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u/EddyTravesty 6h ago
How long can Will Smith stay on at catcher? His bump rate to get the ball to second was like 50th in the league this year. He's under contract to 2033 much as everyone wants to sign a star at first, might need to move Will over there.
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u/dodgerswei Shohei Ohtani 4h ago
I just wondering if Dodgers are handicapped by superstar players ego right now.. Mookie wants to stay in short, Shohei pitches until he hurt himself and hit no HR for 1 month.. Just a thought..
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u/Aravinda82 8h ago
Saw a rumor that Gunnar Henderson could be available for trade since he only has 2 years left before hitting FA. I think trading one of our OF prospects not named JDP and some pitching for him would be a great fit. He’s been inconsistent with the Orioles but he’s got legit star talent that the Dodgers can fix. Plus he’s a good defensive SS.
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u/YourMamasFav24 8h ago
Honestly I feel like a Gunner Henderson, elly de la Cruz or Zach Neto or any other young boarderline star/star SS or 2B are players we need to target. The dodgers need a successor in the infield to take over for mookie, muncy and Freddie tailing off soon. Dream goal is Henderson as he’s a star shortstop who can fit with the club pretty well all around. He’ll be a high asking price but like another version of trea turner for the dodgers as a rental for a few years and possibly signed to a long term deal. Oriels seem open to moving off players this year after the adley deal which is why of the young star players he seems the most gettable.
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u/LuigiC173 7h ago
incorrect, Muncy is due for a deal, sign to another one year or let walk despite his LA legacy. Player age needs to start being at forefront, team needs to get younger and faster.
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u/quailakeTiger1 9h ago
Leave it the same and give our veterans a lot of rest and see what the kids can do. Spend next year focusing on a 3rd base and 2nd base replacement the following year. No need free agents. We have Kim. Edman depaula. Pages. Tucker. Smith. Rushing free land as younger players and vets.
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u/yungjuniorsoprano Will Klein 9h ago
I know it’s become almost a running joke in this sub, but I genuinely think it’s HSK time. He’s gonna break camp with this team and I think he and Tommy platoon to start the season.
This team desperately needs havoc on the base paths and a guy who can break up double plays on the offensive side. Dollars to doughnuts he’s gonna get infield run this year.
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u/MookieBettsBurner11 8h ago
What about the other HSK I mentioned? On a small one year prove it deal
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u/Elegant-Analysis5136 Clayton Kershaw 2h ago
We would be better off making Freeland the full-time starter.
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9h ago edited 9h ago
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u/G33wizz 2024 World Series Champions 9h ago
Huh? You think Smith and Rushing are gonna get time playing middle infield??
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9h ago
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u/Aravinda82 9h ago
Nah if Smith gets moved to save his bat, it’ll be to 3rd.
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8h ago
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u/Aravinda82 7h ago
No I think it’ll be more of a platoon with Will and Muncy to start with, with Will still catching some, just less and less so. Muncy won’t be playing any 2B.
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7h ago
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u/Aravinda82 7h ago
WTF?! Why you acting like I fucking attacked you? I just stated what I think they’ll do. Chill dude.
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u/G33wizz 2024 World Series Champions 5h ago
Don’t worry he has since realized he is a moron and deleted all his comments.
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u/Aravinda82 5h ago
Before he did, he replied to me that it was cuz I just “won’t fucking let up” for replying to him twice. Lmao!
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u/quailakeTiger1 9h ago
Rusing should play catcher once a week at least to spell smith or eveeday day getaway game. He should also play first once a week to give Freddy rest.
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u/neogeo828 Max Muncy 2h ago
Freddy will not like that lol. He already complains about his day off once every 6 weeks or so.
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u/PoodleGuap Yoshinobu Yamamoto 9h ago
I think you just gotta ride it out one more year with this core. They just won 100 games and were injured all year.