Dodgers: Breaking Down the Spring Training Position Battles

LEFT FIELD

In a relatively quiet offseason, Matt Kemp’s status has been the topic of conversation.  Will he be traded before opening day?  Every day that Kemp suits up with the Dodgers in spring training, it appears he is a step closer to starting in left field come opening day.  If the Dodgers cannot move his large contract, they will give his bat every opportunity to make an impact in the batting order.

Does this mean less playing time for Joc Pederson?  Not necessarily.  Chris Taylor can also fill in around the infield and may be the true backup SS to Corey Seager.  Of course, that leads to super utilityman Kike Hernandez, who can also backup at shortstop and start in left field against tough lefties.  I know this article is all over the place, but so are the Dodgers in the field!  Bear with me.  That is the beauty of this team.

Soooo, that is a long-winded way of saying don’t worry about playing time for Joc.  I see him backing up Kemp, Taylor, and Yasiel Puig.  However, should Kemp or Joc slump, Alex Verdugo, and Andrew Toles will be waiting in the wings at AAA Oklahoma City.  That is unless…

THE BENCH SPOT

Verdugo and Toles could be leading contenders for the last spot open on the Dodgers bench.  Chase Utley, Kike Hernandez, Joc Pederson, and whoever is not catching that day are locks for the Dodger bench.  Assuming Dave Roberts goes with a five-man bench, which leaves an open spot.

There are two reasons why I rule out Verdugo and three reasons why I rule out Toles for this assignment.  First, Verdugo and Toles are young players and should be playing every day, so unless they are starting and platooning in the outfield, I don’t see this happening.  Second, they are both left-handed hitters.  The bench could use a solid right-handed bat with some power, and some positional versatility, because, well, why not?  Seems to be a Dodger hallmark now.

Lastly, in Toles case, he is recovering from serious surgery, and needs to ease back into competitive baseball early on.  It’s a long season, and the Dodgers will need to call on him during the season.  That leaves us with Kyle Farmer, Rob Segedin, and Tim Locastro.  Locastro should become a functional MLB utility player, but he lacks the RH power the bench needs.  Segedin helped the Dodgers down the stretch in 2016 when he was healthy but regressed last year.

Farmer is the most valuable piece amongst this group.  He has performed in a couple of clutch situations in his short time at the MLB level, is a good teammate, flashes some RH power, and can play some corner infield.  Having him on the roster frees up Austin Barnes to play some second while Yasmani Grandal catches.  Again, one of this team’s strengths is the positional versatility.

BULLPEN COMPETITION

Not unlike any other spring training, there is competition for at least one if not two spots in the bullpen.  An argument can be made that Josh Fields and Ross Stripling should be locks for the Dodger bullpen.  And they probably are.  However, for the sake of argument, and also because the Dodgers also have two other very capable relievers in Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore, let’s assume there will be competition for these last two spots.

Stripling and Fields pitched well out of the ‘pen last year.  However, Stripling is being stretched as a starter in the spring just in case, so if a starter is injured or the Dodgers want him to build innings in the minors to start the season, there could be an opening.  Likewise, if Fields struggles in the spring, and either Yimi or Liberatore have a solid spring, Fields could find himself in the minors to start the 2018 season.

The beauty is all of these pitchers have minor league options remaining.  One dark horse candidate is Yaisel Sierra; the Cuban pitcher signed to the large multiyear deal before the 2016 season.  Sierra was outrighted off the 40-man roster after struggling as a starter.  Last year, in camp as a non-roster player, Sierra pitched well, as he began his first full season as a reliever.  The only wrinkle in this scenario is, if he is added to the 40 man roster, his multiyear contract will be added to the Dodgers payroll.  He is due roughly $20 million over the next four years.

PLAYERS OUT OF OPTIONS   

Two players that don’t appear to have a set roster spot are out of minor league option years.  OF Trayce Thompson, and pitcher Wilmer Font.  These players will either have to make the team, be traded, claimed off waivers if the Dodgers attempt to outright them off the 40 man roster to the minors, or released.

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Thompson had a bad year last season as he struggled to recover from serious back surgery.  Despite his RH power potential, his odds of making the team are slim.  Ultimately, the Dodgers may have to work out a trade with a rebuilding team that could provide an opportunity.

Font does not have a clear role after spending last year as a starter in AAA.  His arm plays up, but he is also in his late twenties, and even more detrimental, he is out of options.  Perhaps the Dodgers can find a taker for him overseas, as they did with Darin Ruf a year ago.  He profiles as a starting pitcher who can provide a lot of innings to a ballclub that has an opening.  Coupled with his age, an overseas gig may be the best thing for him at this stage of his career.

Next: Sizing up the NL West Competition for the Dodgers

The 2018 Dodgers are a well rounded, talented team.  They do not have many openings. However, the spots above are key positions that need to be filled.  The Dodgers will have the next month to assemble their opening day squad for 2018.