Dodgers Could Pivot to Willy Adames If Mookie Betts’ Shortstop Experiment Fails
The Los Angeles Dodgers moved Gavin Lux from shortstop to second base amid a rash of defensive miscuses, and replaced him with superstar outfielder-turned-infielder Mookie Betts.
Betts will now be responsible for the left side of the infield. Although he’s established himself as a star outfielder, Betts was primarily a shortstop coming out of high school and a second baseman at the outset of his minor league journey. Betts seems entrenched at shortstop again for at least the 2024 season.
While Betts seems more than capable of making the position transition, concerns exist. The Dodgers’ front office is keeping an open mind.
Betts might be the team’s best option at shortstop for now, but if worse comes to worse, acquiring outside help might become a higher priority. And the front office has had its eyes on one veteran for a while.
According to two national reporters, the Dodgers might look to Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames for help.
If the Dodgers get leery about Mookie Betts’ ability to play shortstop, after not playing the position on an everyday basis since high school, they plan to turn to the Milwaukee Brewers and make a run at shortstop Willy Adames, who’s a free agent after the season.
— via Bob Nightengale of USA Today
In an interview with Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi opined that an Adames trade “would have happened by now” if it was going to happen before the season:
Adames has been linked to Los Angeles for what feels like forever. The only problem? Milwaukee’s front office hasn’t totally committed to rebuilding in 2024 — yet — and thus has no motivation to trade Adames or any of its best players.
One thing is certain: Lux is not the answer at shortstop right now. We’ll see if Betts can handle the everyday toll of playing the infield.
If anyone can do it, it is Betts; however, the Dodgers will not take any chances, and they can’t afford to. This team is built to win now. If better options exist on the trade market than what the Dodgers have in-house, they shouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice the future for the present.
A potential addition of Adames would provide an elite defender. He’s been the fourth-best defender at the position since 2021, according to FanGraphs. In addition, he would provide Dave Roberts with a lot of flexibility by allowing Betts to move between shortstop, second base, and right field rather than being locked into one position.
Owner of a career .759 OPS, Adames’ offense isn’t anything special, but his defense would give the Dodgers instant stability.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
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Adames is totally overrated. The Dodgers fall back position is already in house. The Dodgers won over 100 games last year with Rojas as the primary SS. Adames is not an upgrade defensively compared to Rojas. Adames strikes out alot and does not hit for average. On top of that, he is a rental. Why would the Dodgers give up 2 or 3 very good prospects for him?
It will all be moot as Mookie will do just fine at SS.
Well said but sadly we’ll continue hear this speculation for awhile yet.
In the end it will be Rojas at SS. And if Mookie at 2nd Base and Heyward in right gives us the best options, then Lux will have to sit down and wait for next year or play where he can when someone needs a rest. I don’t think Lux is over the injury, physically or mentally, especially mentally. His foot work was all off and awkward like he was afraid to push off on his injured knee. I think he needs to have an extended spring training taking ground ball and throwing to first until it becomes automatic again and you can’t do that in games where you might only get 5 chances a games which if you are not ready is five chances for fielding or throwing errors and we don’t need any of those…
Hey Big Blue, Excellent read on the situation. I hope it’s an obvious way to go with the powers that be.
The biggest problem I see is starting pitching before the two injured pitchers return and even then they are not game tested.
Austin Barnes catching twice a week is a sure 8 outs barring a miracle. Is the team considering trading for a more offensive minded catcher?
We don’t need overrated Adames. Good grief. The Dodgers won a hundred games with Rojas last year. Mookie will be an above average SS. Why would the Dodgers give up prospects and more money for a SS that is not going to significantly improve the lineup.