A Look at the Top Free Agents by Position for the Dodgers

The Dodgers have a tall task to accomplish in 2019: get back to the World Series for the third straight season. Over the course of the last two years, seasons in which the Dodgers fell short, one theme has reigned true: the team had a deficiency in one way or another at one or more positions.

Now, heading into a new season the Dodgers have to use the same goal but accomplish it with a new approach. Spending big money on the free agent front with players like Bryce Harper and Andrew Miller on the market seems like a must or the team can spend prospects on the trade front. Either way, Andrew Friedman and his squad of executives have a crucial job to do this offseason.

The trade market is one beast. Players like JT Realmuto are potentially available at catcher and pitchers like Corey Kluber and Trevor Bauer are up for grabs. So sure, the Dodgers have options in that regard. But, for a team with cash at its disposal and high octane free agents to spend it on, the Dodgers should heavily consider taking that route instead.

To get a greater understanding of who is available and reasonable for the Dodgers to buy this winter, I have compiled a list of players that should suit the Dodgers best in the upcoming season and beyond. The slides will cover one or more free agent for each position on the diamond and will consider my valuation financially of the given player along with a thorough shakedown of his numbers. This will be a series of articles, split into the infield, outfield and pitching.

I do want to make it clear, however, that I am not saying the Dodgers should sign all of these players. Rather, I am suggesting a player at each position that the Dodgers should take a look at. Pick and choose from the list as you wish and let the spending begin.

I get it, you do not want to see Yasmani Grandal in a Dodger uniform ever again. The postseason passed balls and the regular season defensive blunders have you saying something along the lines of “go away and stay away.” But, to your wishes of departure, I say nay and present to you the most elite catcher on the free agent market and, quite frankly, the only one that actually improves this team.

Grandal has been in the league for seven years. Debuting with the Padres in 2012 and getting traded to the Dodgers in 2015, he has quietly been one of baseball’s best offensive and (believe it or not) defensive catchers.

Offensively, there is just no denying the raw power. Since his debut in 2012, only Salvador Perez and Brian McCann have hit more home runs than Grandal has and only Buster Posey has a higher OPS+ in the same stretch.

Grandal brings as good a bat as anyone right now. In a market where catchers do not hit anymore, this is incredibly valuable. In 2018, Grandal was one of just four catchers to have an OPS+ of 100 or more. That means every catcher with the exception of Grandal, JT Realmuto, Yadier Molina and Yan Gomes were below average hitters by that measuring stick.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: just trade for Realmuto. Well, pump the breaks.

JT Realmuto is so good it is unfair. His offense is the second coming of Buster Posey and while his defense is atrociously bad, his offense and ability to play first base make up for it. But, the Dodgers have two young catchers coming up in Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith. If you assume they need at least one more year of minor league seasoning, Grandal on a two-to-three year deal makes a world of sense while JT Realmuto, a definite starter until 2021, does not.

I value Grandal at roughly $10 million a year and that is a much better price to pay than the prospects it will take to stay competitive in the Realmuto race especially with Yan Gomes off the market.

Defensively, you say nightmare, I say not really. Yes, he has led the league in passed balls over the last three years but Grandal also has a career DRS of 63 at catcher. Since 2015, his lowest single-season DRS was 6 which occurred in that 2015 season. You can read the in-depth defensive comparison I wrote on Grandal versus Realmuto here.

Grandal has a real case to return to the Ravine. The fan base’s potential to riot may be a big turnoff for both sides but, if you ask me, a reunion makes a lot of sense.

Honorable mentions for catching free agents go to James McCann and Jonathan Lucroy. I am not in love with either of them and honestly, I would rather see the Dodgers just stay in the house if it comes down to one of those two. But, for the sake of talking free agents only, McCann and Lucroy it is.

Outside of Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, the batting side of free agency is really weak this year. Combine that with the fact that the Dodgers have no need whatsoever to sign a first baseman and this area is really a non-issue.

Currently, Dave Roberts has Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and David Freese to play at first base. Providing all three of those guys need time on the field, fitting another first baseman into the mix will be really tough. But, find me a first baseman that can play any of the infield positions and probably some left field if you were really desperate and I am suddenly listening. Insert Wilmer Flores. 

Flores was recently non-tendered by the competing (I think) Mets and he is actually the prototypical Dodger candidate. In 2018, Flores saw action on defense in 101 games playing 83 of them at first base, 13 at second and 10 at third. Flores was also brought into the league as a shortstop. However, across the board, Flores finds himself in the negatives in terms of DRS. That could still work off the bench.

All of those things leave Andrew Friedman, the king of defensive versatility, jumping for joy. Add on some decent offensive numbers and signing Wilmer Flores for the money he will likely demand is not half bad.

Flores has maintained an OPS+ over the league average mark of 100 for the last three seasons and has maintained an OPS in the mid to high .700’s. Flores also had a .316 wOBA in 2018 and has held a career wOBA mark of .312. Off the bench, the 27-year old Venezuelan utility player could look really nice in blue.

The going rate for a good bat is creeping up but with stats like Flores’s, I can not imagine him getting any more than $5 million a year over two years.

Do the Dodgers need a first baseman? Not a chance. But, throw some versatility into the mix and this signing could actually make a lot of sense for the right price. Color me very interested in Wilmer Flores.

Let’s get one thing very, very, straight: Corey Seager is the shortstop in Los Angeles and there is nothing anyone can say to change my mind on that. Not only is that my opinion but it should be yours too.

That being said, Seager is coming off Tommy John surgery and playing him every day could get a little dicey especially on a team as cautious as the Dodgers. So, upon looking at the free agent market for shortstops I arrived at two names who should not blow the bank: Jose Iglesias and Adeiny Hechevaria. Both bring something to the table and like I said, both should be cheap.

Iglesias is 28-years old and will be 29 by the time the 2019 season rolls around. Iglesias is a pure shortstop, having not played any position but that since 2015. Iglesias has dabbled at third and for the Dodgers to sign him he would need to regain some familiarity with playing multiple positions. Iglesias brings a slightly below average bat to the mix and could come off the bench as a compliment to Corey Seager, a move that could be very helpful.

The trouble with Iglesias is I can not see him taking a bench role after having been an everyday starter in Detroit for the last four seasons. At an $8 million AAV valuation, Iglesias could be nice off the bench but again that would rely heavily on his ability to play more than just shortstop as the Dodgers already have a starter.

Now, when talking about defense and versatility, Hechevaria is the dream. He has an excellent glove at short with a career mark of 22 in DRS. He plays average defense at third with a 0 DRS in 2018 and can dabble at second. The attraction to Hechevaria would be the defense and the price. He cannot cost more than $8 million a year even as a 29-year old looking for a job. If he does, let him walk.

Both options here are not ideal but neither is the shortstop market. All things considered though, the Dodgers do not really need a shortstop with Seager on the way back and plenty of rostered players able to play short.

This is where I get to have my fun. Third baseman can typically rove the field and again like I said earlier, the Dodgers value versatility over just about anything. So, let’s sign some more versatility here and with that get a good bat for the bench, an incredible person with a great story and a veteran. Let’s sign Yangervis Solarte.

Solarte is an interesting buy here and I have actually been arguing for this to happen for quite some time now. The 31-year old infielder brings to the table just about everything the Dodgers could be looking for in an infielder they can stash on the bench while having the pull to demand nothing more than a one-year deal.

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The attraction for Solarte, in my opinion, is the ability to play all four infield spots. In 2018, he covered all four but the issue was his defense was lackluster in every spot he played. By lackluster I mean he did not have a DRS of 0 or higher at any position. In my opinion, that could very well be because he was in a starting role. I do not think Solarte is built for that and he certainly would not be an everyday starter in LA. Bench roles inflate the stats.

Offensively, I actually really like Solarte. He OPS+ was below 100 for the second straight season in 2018 but, like his defensive metrics, putting him on the bench for the first time in his career could really help. In that starting role, however, Solarte has hit 14, 15, 18 and 17 home runs over the last four years respectively.

Solarte also has experience playing in Dodger Stadium, for whatever that is worth. He played as a member of the Padres from 2014-’17.

I would not mind seeing Solarte signed by the Dodgers at all. But I must reiterate that this has to be at the right price. 1 year for $5 million is fair and should not be exceeded for a guy that is already 31 and needs to do some prooving himself after his non-surface stats have taken a slide. Still, I think he is the best option as a free agent third baseman with Mike Moustakas needing an everyday role and too much money.

Thus concludes our free agent breakdown for the infield. If I had to pick a favorite from this group it would be Wilmer Flores as I am genuinely intrigued as to how that would look this year in Dodger Blue. He won’t be too expensive and has the versatility to play anywhere on the infield. His bat is pretty good as well. Also, don’t be so opposed to Yasmani Grandal, it would be nice. Stay tuned for the outfield piece outfitted with the guy everyone wants for a lot of money.