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Whereas the Dodgers went 100-62 final season en path to their tenth division title prior to now 11 years, even they weren’t with out their weak spots. One such weak point was at shortstop, the place the Dodgers completed among the many backside 5 NL groups in OPS, wRC+, and FanGraphs WAR.
Gavin Lux, the presumptive starter on the place, suffered a season-ending damage in spring coaching, and his major substitute, the veteran Miguel Rojas, had his worst offensive season since 2016. Versatile defenders Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor crammed in capably infrequently, however neither is a full-time shortstop and in the end, for lack of higher choices, the Dodgers have been left relying on an getting old Rojas far too typically.
Rojas is beneath contract by means of 2024, however the Dodgers will ask him to play a backup function going ahead – the function he was alleged to play final season earlier than Lux tore his ACL. For his half, Lux expects to be again on the sphere subsequent yr, and the Dodgers count on him to be their on a regular basis shortstop.
Through the Normal Managers Conferences in early November, Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes informed reporters (together with Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register) the staff was optimistic Lux can be able to resume his function as the first shortstop in 2024. The exec repeated the message simply earlier than the Winter Conferences, telling members of the media, “Our thought is that he’s going to be our shortstop” (as relayed by Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider).
Lux was as soon as a top-100 prospect, and he lastly began to stay as much as his top-prospect billing in 2022, when he posted a 114 wRC+ and three.0 fWAR in 129 video games. If he can hit like that and play a serviceable shortstop in 2024, the Dodgers will likely be thrilled. Nevertheless, that’s loads to ask for from a largely unproven participant coming into his age-26 season and coming off a significant damage. What’s extra, Lux has solely began 50 video games at shortstop in his main league profession, and he hasn’t been a major shortstop since his 2019 season within the minor leagues. Even when he’s absolutely wholesome in 2024, he’s removed from a positive factor.
As for the staff’s different inside choices? They’ve already tried all of them. Betts and Taylor can cowl shortstop from time to time, however they aren’t the reply, and in addition to, they’re wanted at different positions. Then there’s Rojas, who simply can’t hit sufficient anymore to carry down an on a regular basis function.
With all that in thoughts, it’s not too stunning the Dodgers are contemplating an exterior repair. Per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers “may improve” at shortstop, in response to “an individual aware of the state of affairs.”
Ardaya mentions Brewers shortstop Willy Adames, who the Dodgers have been interested in final offseason, as a possible commerce candidate. Certainly, the 28-year-old would definitely be an improve. Even in a down yr final season, he was near league common on the plate and elite within the discipline, hitting for a 94 wRC+ and recording 16 Outs Above Common. Over the previous three years, Adames ranks ninth amongst major shortstops with 11.3 fWAR.
Nevertheless, after Adames, it’s exhausting to establish different shortstops who would rely as an improve. Free agent Tim Anderson is a former All-Star, however he’s coming off a dreadful season through which he hit .245/.286/.296 with only one house run. He additionally made 14 errors and posted adverse numbers by practically each defensive metric. Fellow free agent Amed Rosario is coming off a disappointing season of his personal, and though he performed higher after a midseason commerce to the Dodgers, an enormous a part of that was as a result of the Dodgers determined to make use of him primarily at second base. In the meantime, the subsequent greatest commerce candidate may be Jorge Mateo, who has grow to be the odd man out in a crowded Orioles infield. Nevertheless, whereas he boasts a slick glove, he had even worse offensive numbers than Rojas final season.
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