Dodgers: Matt Beaty gains potential roster spot with Dugie out

As the Dodgers come off of their seventh straight division title, roster moves have only gotten more crucial. With injuries and not enough roster spots, there certainly has been some discussion as to who would be lucky enough to fill said spots.

Luckily for the Dodgers, they have utility player Matt Beaty on their hands.

Although Beaty has become a huge asset for the Dodgers, the value he currently holds did not come immediately.

One of the biggest names on the Dodgers roster this year was actually that of Alex Verdugo. He was a key player as AJ Pollock underwent elbow surgery and was out for a significant time. Verdugo, as a rookie, really stepped up to the plate and showed off his hot bat. He hit .294, had 12 home runs, and a WAR of 3.1.

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Unfortunately for Verdugo, he was placed on the IL on August 5 and has yet to heal from his injuries. With other issues arising, it is most likely that Verdugo will not be able to be healthy enough to make the roster. On September 13, manager Dave Roberts announced that Verdugo is likely going to miss at least the division series when the playoffs start next month.

For most teams, losing arguably your best rookie would be a detrimental blow to the team. Not the Dodgers, though.

Like Verdugo, Beaty is a rookie as well. However, you would have never guessed it based on the year he’s currently having. He is hitting .288, with nine home runs and 46 RBI. Beaty has come up in multiple clutch situations and contributed to the many walk-offs that the Dodgers have had this season.

Not only has Beaty been a great addition in the lineup, but he also adds versatility, something the Dodgers have a trend of doing with their players. He is able to play the infield and outfield and is a solid defender in the outfield with a UZR/150 rating of 10.2.

With Verdugo out, it is almost certain that Beaty will receive that postseason roster spot, and he has the talent to back that up. From being an unknown player by many in the Dodgers’ deep farm system to a household name, we can only expect more from Beaty and hope he has a strong postseason showing.