Dodgers: Five ways to instantly improve the team

May 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) shake hands before the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy (15) and Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) shake hands before the game at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2017; Denver, CO, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (23) in the dugout in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports /

Adrian Gonzalez to the 10-Day DL

*written before Friday’s news*

This is not my idea by any means. It’s been circulating throughout social media and beat writers for the last week and has even been discussed by El Títan over the last few days. Gonzalez said Wednesday, “I should have gone on the DL to start the season from this,” and that is a huge admission coming from someone who has played in at least 150 games since 2006. The Dodgers made the rumor official and placed Gonzalez on the DL for the first time in his career on Friday afternoon. 

He has been the Dodgers most consistent player for the last three seasons and has earned the respect he gets league wide. But it’s time to step aside for a moment, and the aching forearm and back need to get healthy before the bat comes back around. It’s time for a stint on the DL.

Freeing up that space on the 25-man roster would allow for Bellinger to remain with the big league club even with the return of Joc Pederson. It will throw Dodgers’ fans into a frenzy if they take a now a middle of the lineup guy off the team, especially after the last ten days he has had, and this is a clear solution.

This is not the final time this will be discussed for the 2017 Dodgers, but this could certainly buy some time before it is asked again. There will be more players coming off the DL soon, that isn’t avoidable, but there are other ways of making room within the organization. Expect this soon.