Dodgers Turn Over the Team to a Young Core of Players in 2018

The Dodgers currently rock a roster with, what I have calculated as, an average age of 27.41. The numbers don’t reflect a drastic change from before the trade, though. The average age then was (again, according to my abacus) 27.82 years. However, I do believe that the heart and soul of the team has shifted. These are a more youthful group of players on which the Dodgers now rely.

The Dodgers are loaded with quality players in their third decade of life. Men already in, or about to enter, their prime. As a matter of fact, quite possibly the best of the Dodgers overall is the baby-faced 29 year-old Clayton Kershaw. Also 29 are pitcher Kenta Maeda and catcher Yasmani Grandal. Sporty catcher Austin Barnes is barely 28, while NLCS co-MVP Chris Taylor is but a mere 27.

Of course, we can’t overlook Yasiel Puig this year. After a return to form last season, the 27 year old is set to be entrenched in right field pretty much every game. Puig is poised to become a true free agent for the first time when the 2019 season ends. At which point, he will command a hefty bag of cash in contract negotiations.

It’s hard to believe, with all the confidence he displayed last year, that Alex Wood is still only 26. If the lefty from Georgia continues to progress on an upward trajectory, there’s much to be optimistic about going forward. Wood could someday very soon be one of the best lefty starters in the game.

With young Joc Pederson able to go out and play any outfield position, along with the returning Andrew Toles able to do likewise, the Dodgers can run out a pair of strong 25 year-olds as they see fit. As long as Pederson gets fit, that is, which is something Joc’s “working really hard this offseason” on doing.

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Then there’s the two golden boys. The pride and joy of the organization, Corey Seager is already a Los Angeles legend at 23. Young stud Cody Bellinger, the most obvious benefactor of the Dodgers’ epic trade last December, is only 22. He’s prepared to triumphantly return to his natural position at first base this year and post up in the infield with his boy Corey for the next decade or so.

There’s added opportunity for young starting pitchers, too, now that highly paid roadblocks McCarthy and Kazmir are out of the way. With another 23-year-old, pitching prospect Walker Buehler, set to get his time in the limelight this season and the previously mentioned Julio “the teenager” Urias on track to be fully healed at some point, the Dodgers aren’t getting any older any time soon.

Next: Turner Ward Showing Cody Love?

Even with recently reacquired Matt Kemp being back on the team, the Dodgers have to feel rejuvenated by the trade that brought him here. The oldest offensive player on the team, Kemp is still only 33 years old, although his joints are arthritic. He’s probably always too busy re-applying IcyHot to make that much of an impact anyway. I jest of course for, as we all know, Kemp is only two months older than Justin Turner. It’s true, I looked it up!