Dodgers GM Reveals Manuel Margot’s Role for 2024
The Dodgers acquired ace Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays recently. The four-player trade also brought back an outfielder, veteran Manuel Margot. A right-handed hitter, Margot will join the Dodgers’ outfield rotation next season.
Margot, 29, has had an interesting career. The Red Sox signed Margot as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic in 2011, but he never played in Boston. The San Diego Padres acquired Margot and three other prospects in the Nov. 2015 trade for Craig Kimbrel. Margot spent the next four seasons with San Diego before being dealt to Tampa Bay before the 2020 season.
The veteran outfielder is likely to platoon with Jason Heyward in right field, but he has the ability to play all over the outfield. He is a strong defensive player who should only help with the Dodgers’ already solid scheme.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke about what Margot brings to the team, and what his role will be in 2024 during a Zoom call on Monday.
“The fact that he’s an elite defender and puts together a good at-bat in the box is very helpful.”
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes
While Margot doesn’t show a ton of power from the plate, he is a good contact hitter. Last season for Tampa Bay, he appeared in 99 games, hitting .264 with four home runs and driving in 38 runs.
A career .281/.341/.420 hitter against left-handed pitching, Margot should provide the Dodgers with a patient approach at the plate when Heyward is not in the lineup. If anything, Margot can provide some extra speed on the basepaths, with 91 steals in 130 career attempts.
Margot was one of the key contributors to the Rays reaching the World Series in 2020, hitting .276 with five home runs and 11 runs batted in over their 19 games. He came up clutch in many different situations, including a three-run home run and a circus catch in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. The Dodgers are hoping his postseason heroics continue with them next October.
The veteran will be making $10 million this season, and he has a mutual option at $12 million for 2025. It remains to be seen if the Dodgers will exercise the option, perhaps wanting to see how he performs this year and how their homegrown outfield prospects progress in the minor leagues.
While he may have been a salary dump throw-in from the Rays, Margot can provide the team with some value. He replaces Jonny DeLuca on the outfield depth chart; DeLuca was included in the trade package with Tampa Bay. Margot adds more experience and gives the Dodgers a right-handed bat to use throughout the season.
Photo Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
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In my opinion we got burned bad by Tampa. Pepiot has done more in limited play 5-1 78 innings. Glasnow took 4years to get 5 wins and had a ridiculous Era. In 9 years Glasgow only pitched over a 100 innings twice with 120 being the most. How anybody calls him an ace is beyond me. In 8 years he 30-27 with an Era of almost 4. He has never even come close to pitching a full season he has only reached double digits in wins one time and it was last year and the bare minimum of 10 wins. Prior to last season the man was 20-20. To pay him that much money doesn’t make any sense and to give up a pitching prospect like Pepiot for someone with glasnow numbers is just plain idiotic. Tampa is laughing all the way. I mean come on, who started the ace rumors. Bottom line we spent way more just to make our staff a lot weaker. But hey maybe this will be the year that he makes it through a full season, but don’t bet on it. Oh and Glasnow is 1-5 in post season. New total 31-32 great
How much more is Margot going to contribute than DeLuca would have? Yes, he has experience, but he is too high-priced. DeLuca was impressive in his short stint. I feel bad for him and his family that he got shipped across the country– a local kid who rose through the the ranks and played with fire. Best wishes to him and Pepiot.