MLB Draft Redux: The 2007 Dodgers first round picks

What if the Dodgers had selected Josh Donaldson in the MLB Draft?

While the Los Angeles Dodgers were busy selecting arms to bolster their pitching depth, one of the game’s premier hitters of the past 10 years fell to the Chicago Cubs with the 48th overall pick in 2007.

Then a catcher out of Auburn University, Josh Donaldson was somewhat of a questionable prospect. Despite having some power in his bat, scouts were not enamored with his hitting ability and were not sure if he would stick long-term behind the plate due to his arm strength. Ultimately, he was profiled as a back-up catcher if he didn’t make a move to the infield. Of course, Donaldson would make it to the Major Leagues (albeit with the Oakland Athletics) as a catcher, but it wasn’t until he made the full-time move to third base and adjusting his swing to mimic Jose Bautista that he truly broke out.

In 2013, Donaldson became a perennial MVP candidate after hitting 24 home runs and driving in 93 RBI on the back of a .301/.384/.499 slash. He would follow that up with a .255/.342/.456 line, 26 home runs and 98 RBI in 2014 before being traded to Toronto, where he won the 2015 American League MVP.

For nine seasons, Donaldson has been worth 41.4 fWAR and owns a lifetime wRC+ of 139 while playing for the A’s, Blue Jays, Indians, and Braves. He’ll suit up for the Minnesota Twins in 2020 after inking a 4-year, $92 million deal this winter.

It’s easy to understand why the Dodgers would pass up on Donaldson given his drawbacks coming out of college and no one knows if he would have made the same adjustments in the Los Angeles system. Of course, the Dodgers ended up with their own stud of a third baseman during that time as well, so it’s hard to feel too badly for missing out here.

What if the Dodgers had selected Giancarlo Stanton in the MLB Draft?

While one can understand missing on Donaldson, one has to wonder how the Dodgers could have missed on a player that literally grew up in their backyard. The answer to that is because most of the other teams did as well.

Then known as Mike, Giancarlo Stanton was a big name on scout’s radar. Perfect Game, one of the premier showcase programs in the country, ranked Stanton 125th in the country for his graduating class, and sixth as a first baseman. There were also concerns about whether he wanted to play football or baseball and honor his scholarship offer from USC. However, one team took the chance, with the Marlins selecting Stanton with the 76th overall pick (2nd round).

Well, we all know the rest.

Stanton would decide to pursue baseball and within three years was already in the Marlins outfield, playing alongside Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna. In eight seasons for Miami, Stanton hit 267 home runs and drove in 672 runs while hitting .268/.368/.554. He would take home the 2017 National League MVP when he hit .281/.376/.631 with 59 home runs and 132 RBI.

Unfortunately for Miami (as is typical fashion for the Marlins), his 13-year, $325 million contract signed in 2014 became too rich for the ballclub and he was dealt to the New York Yankees in December 2017 trade. At the time, the Dodgers were rumored to be in on the bidding, as Stanton had indicated his desire to play for his hometown team and controlled a no-trade clause. However, Los Angeles never put up a worthwhile bid and he ultimately got dealt to the Yankees.

His time in New York has been mostly forgettable, at least by his standards, as Stanton has been limited to just 176 total games and 41 home runs over the last two seasons due to injuries. Still, in10 seasons, Stanton owns a lifetime slash of .268/.358/.547 with 308 home runs, 785 RBI, and a wRC+ of 142.

Of course, the Dodgers could have landed him years earlier, and not have worried about the trade route at all. Whether he would have fit into the outfield or at first base may have changed in Los Angeles, but it provides a fun “what if” moment for Dodgers fans.

What if the Dodgers had selected Freddie Freeman in the MLB Draft?

The Los Angeles Dodgers have seen a revolving door of first baseman over the years, so knowing that one of the steadiest players at the position over the last decade got away during the draft, it can be hard to accept.

Like Stanton, Freddie Freeman grew up in the shadows of Dodgers Stadium, playing his high school ball in Orange, California. Likewise, Freeman ranked just ahead of Stanton in terms of the high school class of 2007 with Perfect Game (121st overall, 4th among first basemen). The Braves would see through that a bit and select Freeman with the 78th overall pick in 2007 draft

After solid seasons at Rookie and Low-A ball, scouts began to come around on Freeman as a prospect, with Baseball Prospectus noting:

“His swing has both speed and leverage, and it’s rare to find a player so young with both power and his kind of feel for contact, making it easy to project him as a player who hits tons of home runs while maintaining a high batting average. He’s a surprisingly good defender as well, with soft hands, good footwork, and a great arm.”

It’s safe to say that they hit that projection on the head. He would get the call-up to Atlanta for a cup of coffee in 2010, but earned the full-time job in 2011 when he hit .282/.346/.448 with 21 home runs and 76 RBI. Over nine seasons with the Braves, he owns 227 home runs and 805 RBI, along with a lifetime slash of .293/.379/.504, a wRC+ of 137, and a fWAR of 34.6.

Should the Dodgers consider trading Kenley Jansen?

Coming off his worst season as a closer, Kenley Jansen is looking for a bounce-back season. But should the Dodgers trade him before it is too late?

At the time Freeman was being drafted, the Dodgers were fully committed to James Loney and then transitioned into the Adrian Gonzalez era. No doubt that Freeman would have been an upgrade over both, and would have solidified the position over the last decade. Max Muncy holds the position now, but one has to wonder if Freeman’s presence would have turned the fortunes for the team during the last several years.