Los Angeles Dodgers bargain lineup of the last decade

Best bargains of the last decade: Infield

Catcher: Yasmani Grandal ($16.8 mil from 2015-2018)

The Dodgers landed Yasmani Grandal in a trade that saw them send former franchise player Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres.  Grandal became one of the best catchers in baseball after arriving in Los Angeles and averaged over twenty home runs a season.  In addition to his power, he honed his defensive skills becoming a solid backstop and one of the best pitch framers in MLB.

First base: Max Muncy ($489K in 2018, $575K in 2019)

One of the Dodgers’ best transactions in recent seasons was signing Max Muncy to a minor league contract.  Who would’ve thought?  Muncy has become an underrated slugger in Los Angeles slugging 35 home runs in each of the last two seasons.  He was one of the few Dodgers to produce in the disappointing 2019 NLDS.  Max now can’t keep fans from hitting him up for autographs.

Second Base: Jamey Carroll (2 years $3.8 million)

Jamey Carroll was signed to be a backup but due to injuries, he became a valuable part of the Dodgers’ 2010 and 2011 clubs.  He hit .290 and .291 in each of his two seasons in Los Angeles and joined Aaron Miles to make up a scrappy infield that was ravaged due to injuries.  Carroll was the little man that could in Los Angeles and another bargain signing.

Shortstop: Chris Taylor ($535K in 2017, $575K in 2018)

Another one of the unexpected heroes of the decade is Chris Taylor.  The Dodgers acquired Taylor in return for disappointing first round bust Zach Lee.  Taylor immediately became a part of the Dodger core and his versatility is uber important to a club that values versatility.  CT3 was a key part of the 2017 World Series team and will continue to play a big role in 2020.

Third base: Justin Turner ($8.6 million from 2014-2016)

Prior to signing the biggest contract of his career, Justin Turner was another unheralded signing by Ned Colletti.  Turner was non-tendered by the New York Mets and thanks to changing his swing by adding a leg kick, Turner morphed into one of the decade’s most important hitters.  Now a household name, Justin provided great value in 2015 and 2016 for the Dodgers.