Dodgers: Marwin Gonzalez is the Safety Net the Dodgers Need

The Dodgers appear content with starting the season with the roster they currently have.  Marwin Gonzalez would be a good addition in case some Dodger players regress or don’t perform as well as the Dodgers hope.

The Dodgers continue to wait out the trade and free agent market looking for ways to improve their ballclub before players report to spring training in about a month.  If nothing materializes on the trade front the Dodgers appear content with heading into the season and upgrading later on if necessary.

One player out there that would make sense for the Dodgers to add is a former enemy in Marwin Gonzalez.  Gonzalez is capable of playing all over the diamond and would be a good safety net in case Alex Verdugo nose dives in 2019.  He would also protect against any regression the Dodgers get from Chris Taylor and Kiké Gonzalez.  Marwin is a solid locker room guy that combined with his Swiss army knife abilities and clutchness the Dodgers have witnessed first hand, he would be a big-time addition for the blue.

As things stand now, the Dodgers are counting a lot on Chris Taylor, Kiké Hernandez, and Alex Verdugo to boost their lineup from the right field and second base positions.  If any of them get injured or struggle this year then the Dodgers are going to be in a bind especially depth wise.  The Dodgers have a good number of outfield prospects but none of them are MLB ready and the team will be in big trouble if it comes to relying on Andrew Toles.

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The outfield market is lackluster in terms of backup options and Adam Jones is probably going to try and find a starting role somewhere.  Marwin Gonzalez has played all three outfield positions with most of his outfield work coming at left field a season ago.  He rated the best defensively in left field with a 12.6 UZR/150 rating.

Marwin has hit lefties and righties equally effective over the last three seasons posting a .442 slugging percentage against lefties and a .446 slugging percentage against righties.  He would also help the Dodgers in the clutch department where he has hit .284 with runners in scoring position over the last three seasons.  The Dodgers also tend to struggle with the bases loaded and Marwin Gonzalez has hit .388 with the bases juiced since 2016.

Even though he struggled a little bit in 2018, Gonzalez posted a career-best 38% hard hit percentage.  There was an internet rumor the other day that Marwin had signed but it turned out to be false.  If the Dodgers could get him for something along the lines of two years twenty-four million then that would be a good deal for both sides.  The Dodgers would clear his salary by the time the younger players reach free agency and have a solid veteran bat who can start and play anywhere in a pinch.