Dodgers: Projecting the Dodger Lineup After the First Flurry of Moves

8. Logan Forsythe, Second Base

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Logan Forsythe made up for a really pedestrian regular season with a solid postseason. One of the very first moves the Dodgers made this offseason was picking up his $7M option. This move gave the Dodgers stability at second base, a position which they platooned for the greater part of last season.

Now with Chase Utley presumed gone and Charlie Culberson playing in Atlanta, it’s really only Forsythe competing for time at second base. There isn’t any other Dodger that could steal time away from Forsythe to make this a platoon. Kike Hernandez is capable of playing second but if Forsythe would platoon it would be for a left-hander against right-handed pitching.

If Forsythe struggles again next season, Roberts could open up the defensive alignment to move Pederson or Toles to play center field and bring Taylor in to play second. That’s an unlikely scenario at this point in the season, but Roberts does have that option if things go south with Forsythe.

Forsythe comes into this season with much more reasonable expectations. Last offseason he was expected to be a top two-hitter in the Dodger lineup and improve their struggles against left-handed pitching. He did well against left-handed pitching but struggled atop the lineup. This upcoming season he will be asked to play solid defense and occasionally get the pitcher to the box with 2-outs in an inning.

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The Dodgers lineup, for the most part, will look the same as last season. Outside of the addition of Matt Kemp, there really isn’t anyone new starting for the Dodgers. Although Kemp’s future with the Dodgers is still very much up in the air, he could play a big role on this team. It remains to be seen how Roberts will manage the catching situation, but right now it’s anyone’s guess. Logan Forsythe figures to be the primary second baseman until he proves he’s not capable of handling the workload. What do you think the Dodger lineup should be next season? Let us know!