Dodgers: Potential adds from non-tendered free agent pool
Available outfielders from the non-tender pool
The current Dodgers outfield is cramped. Cody Bellinger and Alex Verdugo are all but guaranteed spots in 2019, and A.J. Pollock and Joc Pederson are established major leaguers who will either need to be dealt or given 400+ ABs for the 2020 season.
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Based on current rumors, the Dodgers already are considering dealing JocPop away and dealing for All-Star Mookie Betts. If that sort of move is on the table, maybe the Dodgers would be willing to add a non-tendered outfielder with bits and pieces of what makes Betts so special at a fraction of the cost.
My favorite option from this group is Kevin Pillar. A Southern California native, Pillar earned an MVP vote with the San Francisco Giants this season, proving he can play in the NL West after having spent the majority of his career in the AL East. “Superman” had over 170 runs+RBI to lead the Giants. He also stole 14 bases while playing some of the best defense in the game.
Beyond Pillar, Steven Souza Jr. and José Peraza may also make sense for the Dodgers to add. Souza Jr. missed all of 2019 and only played 72 games in 2018, but back in 2017, the dynamic outfielder hit 30 home runs in 148 games for the Tampa Bay Rays. Peraza can play the middle infield and centerfield, and the front office already is familiar with him as he was a former-LA prospect. Though his .285 OBP from 2019 is below his career average, he still has some of the upside he had as a rising young star in 2018, when he hit 14 homers with a .288 AVG.
If the Dodgers want to deal from their surplus outfielders and add some high-value players to bring a righty bat and defense, then these players all make sense for LA.