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

By Jacob Rudner

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets fields a ground ball in front of Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leading to an out of Matt Kemp #27 to end the third inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 04: Wilmer Flores #4 of the New York Mets fields a ground ball in front of Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers leading to an out of Matt Kemp #27 to end the third inning at Dodger Stadium on September 4, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 24: Jose Iglesias #1 of the Detroit Tigers singles against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at Comerica Park on August 24, 2018, in Detroit, Michigan. The teams are wearing their Players Weekend jerseys and hats. The White Sox defeated the Tigers 6-3. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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.

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