Dodgers: A Pair of Tigers Could Bolster the Dodgers’ Roster

The Dodgers appear to have little competition standing in the way of another NL West title.  A pair of Tigers could help bolster LA’s roster as they start to look at their roster for the postseason.

Last season the Rockies and Diamondbacks gave the Dodgers a run for their money down to the last game and then one more, as the Dodgers won the division in game 163 against the Rockies.  This season the Dodgers have gotten off to a much better start and entering Thursday their division lead stood at six games.  With little competition, the Dodgers will soon look at ways to improve their potential playoff roster.

The Detroit Tigers are one non-contending team who has a pair of players that could help the Dodgers in another World Series run.  Those two players are outfielder Nick Castellanos and reliever Shane Greene.  Castellanos is an outfielder/DH type who is a free agent at the end of the season.  His current slash line of .253/.307/.431 doesn’t look too impressive but against lefties this season his slash line is .385/.467/.692.

I highlighted Nick as a potential pickup before the season, and he makes sense even more right now with Chris Taylor struggling, and A.J. Pollock’s immediate future up in the air.  Castellanos would give the Dodgers another left fielder who can mash lefties and in another potential World Series, a designated hitter who can hit southpaw pitching.  Last October the Dodgers were dominated by David Price and Chris Sale in the World Series, and Castellanos could help bolster LA’s lineup against left-handed pitching.

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Nick has also slugged .483 against righties over the last three seasons, so he would not have to be subbed out for when a left-handed starter leaves the game.  With Chris Taylor moving further and further away from his 2017 form, Castellanos would be good protection in case CT3 continues to slump. If an injury occurs to one of CT3 or Kiké, then Nick Castellanos would also help pick up the slack against lefties by starting in left field with one of Taylor or Hernandez at second base.

The other Tiger that would help the Dodgers is closer Shane Greene.  If Joe Kelly fails to revert to his 2018 postseason form, then Greene could slide into the eighth inning setup role.  This season, Greene is a perfect 15-15 in save opportunities and has held the opposition to a .141 batting average.  He has virtually eliminated right-handed batters allowing just a .114 average against them while holding lefties to a .185 average.

Greene’s career has had peaks and valleys, including last season, when he struggled despite converting 32 of 38 save opportunities.  This season he has turned it around and the Tigers will no doubt be looking to sell high on one of their few trade assets.  With the Dodgers always in need of reliable relievers, a trade for Nick Castellanos and Shane Greene would bolster the roster for another run at a World Series title.