Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Juan Uribe Won’t Play First Base And Other Notes

Juan UribeThe Los Angeles Dodgers let the pitching staff get the day off today while position players continued to workout at Camelback Ranch this afternoon. The first official team workout was held yesterday with Matt Kemp saying he wasn’t a fourth outfielder while Yasiel Puig continued to be monitored for right shoulder inflammation.

Today, a lot of the talk centered on the Dodgers bench, which is arguably the weakest groups heading into the season. With four or five players fighting for two spots on the bench, Don Mattingly spoke to Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times about where non-roster invitee Chone Figgins figures to play:



The 36-year-old infielder didn’t play in 2013 after being released by the Miami Marlins during spring training. Figgins figures to be competing with Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas, Brendan Harris and Justin Turner for a spot on the Dodgers bench. At his peak, Figgins was considered one of the best infielders when he it .298, smacked 30 doubles and stole 42 bases while finishing in the top-10 of AL MVP voting during the 2009 season.

Along with question marks about second base and Alex Guerrero’s ability to start from day one, the Dodgers also are in need of a reliable backup first baseman. Scott Van Slyke played in four games there last season while Turner will also see some time there if he makes the team and according to Hernandez, Juan Uribe isn’t a candidate to play over there:

The Tampa Bay Rays were interested in having Uribe play first base earlier this off-season before he returned to the Dodgers on a two-year deal. With Guerrero impressing the coaching staff, it sounds like Turner, Figgins and Gordon will be competing for the final spots on the roster.

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Ross Gasmer

Ross Gasmer is a Social Media Producer for @TheHerd and was a contributing writer and editor for Dodger Nation. Follow him on Twitter @Ross_Gasmer12

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