The Dodgers added to their center infield with the signing of KBO second Hyeseong Kim to a three-year contract. That fueled hypothesis about Los Angeles dealing one in every of their different infielders.
Common supervisor Brandon Gomes downplayed the notion that including Kim will spur one other commerce. “I feel it’s extra that we’re including a extremely gifted participant, and [then we’ll] see the place issues play out,” Gomes instructed reporters (together with Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Occasions). “It’s useful to have actually robust items at a whole lot of totally different areas. In order that’s how we’re viewing it proper now.” He added that the workforce’s “mindset” stays a center infield pairing of Mookie Betts at shortstop and Gavin Lux at second base.
Earlier than Gomes’ media session, Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic reported that the Dodgers view Kim as a utility participant. Los Angeles values defensive flexibility as a lot as any workforce. The 25-year-old Kim has primarily been a second baseman however has expertise in left area and at each positions on the left facet of the infield. L.A. already has Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor as veteran utility choices. Tommy Edman may also play both center infield spot however is anticipated to be the on a regular basis middle fielder between Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernández. Assuming a four-man bench, Kim and backup catcher Austin Barnes would spherical out the place participant group. That’d push outfielders Andy Pages and James Outman, every of whom has a minor league possibility left, to Triple-A if everybody’s wholesome.
Rojas underwent postseason hernia surgical procedure, however there’s no indication that’ll hold him from taking part in Spring Coaching. Taylor is coming off a .202/.298/.300 displaying. The group clearly locations a whole lot of emphasis on his versatility and clubhouse presence. L.A. designated former prime prospect Diego Cartaya for project because the corresponding transfer for Kim. That implies the Dodgers see a path to carrying all of Kim, Rojas and Taylor on the roster.
There may very well be a component of gamesmanship to Gomes’ feedback. It wouldn’t do the workforce a lot good to proclaim they’re attempting to deal a center infielder even when they have been. That stated, it’s not stunning that the Dodgers don’t really feel Lux’s scenario modifications a lot after the Kim signing. The latter’s three-year, $12.5MM assure is a modest funding that means MLB groups typically seen him as a utility participant fairly than an everyday.
Lux hit .251/.320/.383 with 10 homers whereas enjoying barely below-average protection in additional than 1000 innings at second base final 12 months. He had a unbelievable second half, hitting .304 with seven homers in 61 video games after the All-Star Break. He has been a league common hitter over practically 1500 MLB plate appearances. Evaluators query how a lot Kim will deliver to the desk offensively. It’d be dangerous for the Dodgers to deal Lux and count on Kim to deal with the keystone.
The Dodgers additionally don’t have evident weaknesses that they should deal with through commerce. There’s little purpose to deal Lux for prospects. The Dodgers may open the season with a rotation together with Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. They’re anticipated to deliver Clayton Kershaw again. They may signal Roki Sasaki. Tony Gonsolin and Dustin Might are getting back from damage. The bullpen is the relative weak level, however Ardaya writes in a separate column at The Athletic that the workforce prefers to deal with that by free company fairly than commerce.
