Dodgers: Solving the Left Field Starting Job Question

In what seems like an annual theme, the Dodgers find themselves with an outfield “problem.”   Puig is going to start in right and Pederson will be patrolling center. The issue that Dave Roberts is faced with, is who starts in left?

The strength of this Dodgers team lies in its depth. With a deep roster like this one, difficult roster decisions have to be made. Between Toles, Ethier, Gutierrez, Van Slyke, and Thompson the Dodgers have some choices to make within the next month. 

I’ll break down the best options for Dave Roberts in left field.

Andrew Toles:

Andrew Toles was the biggest surprise of the 2016 season. Toles was a great find for the Dodgers as he gave them some much-needed reinforcements in the second half of the season. Sadly, he may not be on the roster when opening day comes around.

Toles was brought up on July 8^th, 2016 and in limited action hit .314/.365/.505. Not too bad for a guy who was working at a grocery store prior to the Dodgers picking him up. He was a nice spark plug for the team and forced his way into more playing time as the season went on.

Toles may find himself as the odd man out when it’s decision time for Roberts. He has options remaining on his contract, so he just might have to be sent down to AAA in April.

Yes, Toles was a great surprise for the team, but we’ve all been fooled before (Luis Cruz). It’s not a guarantee that he regains the same form as last year. The best option here is to send him down to get playing time, and bring him back up when another spot opens. Unless Toles is able to improve on his mediocre spring thus far and force Dave Roberts’ hand.

Verdict: Andrew was a great spark plug and he’ll make it back to LA, but on opening day he will be in Oklahoma City.

Scott Van Slyke:

Van Slyke dealt with a wrist injury for a majority of last year. He was shut down in August, after deciding he needed surgery and has been nursing the injury since. Despite what looks to be the start of a strong spring, Van Slyke may still find himself in Oklahoma as well.

In a situation similar to Andrew Toles, Van Slyke has an option on his contract and can be sent down to AAA. However, he has a shot at making the roster over Toles because he can back up Adrian Gonzalez at first. We all know Roberts loves versatile players, so being able to play multiple positions may give him a boost.

Still, Van Slyke is probably going to start the season in AAA for a little bit and then find his way back to LA sometime during the year. After hitting .225/.292/.314 last season, Van Slyke can benefit from some at-bats in Oklahoma.

Verdict: Might be able to steal a spot to ensure Gonzalez has a backup, but more than likely is sent down to start the season.

Trayce Thompson:

After having to deal with lower back tightness last year, Trayce Thompson was shut down on July 10^th. He appeared in 80 games for the club in 2016, and hit .225/.302/.436 with 13 homeruns.

After being acquired from the White Sox in 2015, Thompson has become a solid player for the team and deserves playing time. When Thompson is healthy, he can be a key part of this team and has proved this before.

Thompson made his first start of the spring against the Angels on Sunday and claimed to be 100%. I doubt the Dodgers want to gamble on his health and will place him on the disabled list to begin the season. They should let him work off the rust and get comfortable with the game again before they give him any type of playing time in the majors.

Verdict: He’ll start the season on the disabled list, in order to get fully recovered for the team.

Franklin Gutierrez:

When Franklin Gutierrez signed with the Dodgers on February 10^th, I was very confused. The signing indicated to me, that the team wasn’t confident Trayce Thompson would be healthy enough to start the year.

Gutierrez had played for the Seattle Mariners since 2005 and didn’t attract much attention this offseason. The Dodgers picked him up on a 1-year, 2.6 million dollar deal as a platoon project.

In the last two years, Franklin has been solid offensive player vs left-handers. Last year, 12 of his 14 home runs came against southpaws. He may not be a defensive wizard but he can be a decent platoon guy and the Dodgers can use some production against lefties.

Despite a slow start to the spring, Gutierrez adds good depth to a Dodgers team that is filled with platoon guys. He was given the contract to see what he can do, and most likely starts the year with LA. Whenever a lefty is slated to pitch, go ahead and pencil in Gutierrez for the start. Having an overcrowded outfield also means that Gutierrez is gone if he struggles.

Verdict: Gutierrez starts the year in a platoon role. He will have a short leash and at the first sign of trouble will be replaced.

So there you have it, Franklin Gutierrez and Andre Ethier. This will be your left-field tandem to start the year. It may not be the shiniest tandem, but on paper the platoon makes sense.

There will be injuries and there will be struggles. That means Toles, Van Slyke, and Thompson, will all more than likely see the big leagues sometime this year. It’s nice to know these guys are backup options in case of the plan falling apart.

Next: Dodgers TV Deal Update

The Dodgers have made it a point to try and get as much depth as possible on its roster. With such a crowded outfield, there is just not enough room for other talented players to get playing time. The team has a good problem on their hands, and it will all work itself out, with time.