Dodgers: Resetting the LA Outfield and Roster Following Peralta, Reyes Additions
The Los Angeles Dodgers made some moves over the weekend. They did a great job of filling a few holes ahead of Spring Training, and officially gave us a pretty good look of what the 26-man roster is going to look like entering the season.
We already went over the biggest questions entering Spring Training, and those will still need to be answered before the team finalizes the roster. However, we have a much better sense of what it’s going to look like, so here’s where things stand right now.
We can start with the addition of RHP Alex Reyes, as he won’t change things up in the immediate. Reyes is expected to be out for the first few months of the year, so when Opening Day rolls around, the bullpen should look exactly how we expected it to look. Reyes should make a huge late-season impact in the back of the pen.
Starting Pitchers: Julio Urias, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Noah Syndergaard
Bullpen: Evan Phillips, Daniel Hudson, Brusdar Graterol, Yency Almonte, Alex Vesia, Shelby Miller, Caleb Ferguson and then a competition for the final spot between any of Phil Bickford, Justin Bruihl, Victor Gonzalez, Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot.
As for the offensive side of the ball, the addition of OF David Peralta really changes things up. I don’t only expect Peralta to play a ton, I expect him to be in the Opening Day lineup in left field. I think that’ll move Chris Taylor to center, and turn it into a competition between Jason Heyward and James Outman for the final spot. As a right-handed bat, Trayce Thompson is safe for now (although he had some pretty gnarly reverse splits last year that will need to be sorted out).
Here’s where things stand right now:
Catchers: Will Smith, Austin Barnes
Infielders: Freddie Freeman, Miguel Vargas, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas
Outfielders: Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, David Peralta, Trayce Thompson and a competition between Jason Heyward and James Outman for the final spot
Designated Hitter: J.D. Martinez
The idea of leaving Outman off the roster for an aging Heyward feels weird, however, here’s why it could make sense. If Outman remains in the major leagues, he’ll be sitting on the bench a majority of the time. He won’t get consistent at-bats unless there’s an injury, which wouldn’t really do much for his growth.
If he opens the season in Triple-A, he’ll be playing every single night, getting important reps both as a hitter and centerfielder. Then, if an injury happens, he’ll come up with much more valuable playing experience, ready to contribute as an everyday player.
Things could still change before Opening Day. Maybe the Dodgers have another signing or trade in them before then. But for now, this is likely what the Opening Day roster will look like. Definitely not too bad considering the major losses they suffered this offseason.
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Who are the players at OKC most likely to appear for the Dodgers sometime in 2023? Bobby Miller? Gavin Stone? Any other pitchers? Michael Busch?
Noah’s predictions for the outfield roster positions are probably accurate but they show some befuddled thinking by the team. Thompson pretty much only hits righties making his role in a platoon with any left hitting outfielder sticky. Peralta is going to need a partner who hits left handed pitching reasonably well. Seems like that would mean Taylor in left for those games where Paralta would be overmatched. So, then at least one of the remaining roster spots should go to a player who can hit left-handed pitching well and play center field. That’s not Thompson since he can’t hit lefties or Heyward because he also can’t hit lefties and is too old. Those starts go to the least-worst hitting outfielder against lefties not named Taylor?? The other spot probably goes to a defensive minded OF capable of playing any OF position. I suppose that could be Zimmer. It could also go to a backup right fielder, which could be Heyward since he is probably capable of hitting .260 for the first few months of he season. Look for a trade later or for Outman to grow into a roster position with regular playing time. This could all be solved if Thompson or Peralta figures out how to hit left handed pitching.
Chris Taylor is far better as a roaming super utility player rather than a starting position x starter.