The Los Angeles Dodgers tend to target utility players, and with Miguel Rojas, a very flexible infielder, and Kike Hernandez, who can play every position, both leaving the team to start the offseason, they could look for an alternative.
Why the Dodgers may look for a new utility player
Rojas is now firmly retired and has already moved into coaching, while Hernandez has faced two straight years of declining offensive production, and at 35, there may be doubts about his viability going forward.
The Dodgers still have Tommy Edman under contract for multiple years, and Hyeseong Kim is also in the mix, leaving the team with some hyper-flexible players; but if they add another player, there is a clear candidate.
How Mauricio Dubon fits on the Dodgers
Mauricio Dubon, the Atlanta Braves defensive chess piece, held his own at many tough positions, including left field, shortstop, center field, third base, and second base.
Over the last four years, Dubon has consistently graded out as an above-replacement-level player, including two seasons with 2.7 bWAR.
However, a lot of that comes from his defense. He has a 92 OPS+ since 2023, hitting .268/.306/.385, and while his hitting isn’t fantastic, he puts the ball in play at a good clip, specializing as a contact bat.
Mauricio Dubon vs. Kike Hernandez
Comparatively, since 2023, Hernandez has a 77 OPS+ and has racked up 1.3 bWAR, while battling a ton of injuries, something Dubon has proven to be great at avoiding.
The argument for Hernandez staying on for another year would be his tendency to make big plays in October. In 2023, he hit .375 with a .750 OPS, then in 2024, he hit .294 with a .808 OPS.
For his career, Hernandez has a postseason OPS of .806.
Dubon, meanwhile, has been to four different postseasons, hitting .268/.300/.286 with a .586 OPS.
Hernandez holds the track record over Dubon, but with injuries and a downturn in both the regular season and postseason, Dubon offers an on-field upgrade if the Dodgers want one.
While the production and trends point to choosing Dubon over Hernandez, there is the unmistakable bond that Hernandez shares with the clubhouse and key figures, something that contributes to and solidifies the culture.
Dubon, or anyone else, cannot replicate Hernandez’s cultural impact on the Dodgers, and in the end, that may win out as the Dodgers weigh giving Hernandez another chance to be a key part of a World Series team.
