Dodgers’ Revisionist History: 2018-19 Offseason Reimagined

Sign Jonathan Schoop

The Dodgers need a second baseman. Whether they sign a left-handed hitter to platoon or a right-handed hitter with some pop, the Dodgers need someone other than Kike or Chris Taylor to play second next season.

Jonathan Schoop could have been that player. He should have been that player.

The price was right. Schoop ended up signing a measly one year, $7.5 million deal with the Twins, a team that is far from contending, but that I will actually mention multiple times during this article (stay tuned).

When the Brewers non-tendered Schoop, I immediately wanted the Dodgers to make the move and sign him to a short-term deal in LA. Here’s part of how I described him a month ago:

"On the surface, Schoop matches exactly what the Dodgers want. A second baseman with a good glove and with legitimate power to all fields who has the durability to play every day, he is something the Dodgers have lacked over the last two seasons. […] With a poor [2018] performance will come a lower price, even though Schoop is just 27 years old. He is arbitration eligible for 2019, though he could be extended by the Dodgers long term if he proves himself to be better than his outlier 2018 showed."

Schoop is a young power hitter and is a strong defender to boot. He could have taken over the second base position for years to come, let alone just 2019. Instead, the Dodgers missed out and will have to settle for a veteran or unexciting bat. They had the chance at a game changer, a 30+ home run, 3.8 WAR player for a fraction of what he would normally cost.