Dodgers: 4 roster battles to watch in spring training 2.0

1) Dodgers roster battles: Will Smith vs Austin Barnes

Former first round pick Will Smith appears ready to take on the full-time catching duties, but when spring training was suspended in mid-March, it seemed like manager Dave Roberts was leaning toward a “partnership” between Smith and Austin Barnes.

Smith caught 46 games during his first exposure to major league pitching last year. He handled himself well behind the plate while displaying his raw power with 15 home runs and 42 RBIs.

The veteran Barnes is not going to excite anyone with his bat, but his defense is unmatched and his pitch-framing is important for Dodgers pitchers. The 30-year-old was off to a hot start in Cactus League play before things shut down. If he can improve his performance on offense, he could pose a threat to Smith’s quest to take over the everyday catching duties this season.

The Dodgers will have three weeks to get ready for the season, but there won’t be any game action beyond scrimmages to evaluate which backstop is ready for a potential breakout season. As most things this year, that will be decided on the fly during the regular season.

2) Dodgers roster battles: Left field platoon

This position battle is a matter of at-bats. We know both AJ Pollock and Joc Pederson will see time in the Dodgers lineup this season, but how often each plays will be interesting to watch over a shortened 60-game schedule.

Left field has become a classic platoon opportunity for manager Dave Roberts, with Pederson mashing right-handed pitchers and Pollock offsetting him against southpaws. Last year, Pederson hit all 36 of his home runs against righties.

With Mookie Betts added to the outfield next to Cody Bellinger, it doesn’t leave space for either Pollock or Pederson to find much time in center or right field, so they will have to make due with the opportunities they get in left field.

Pollock has played most of his career as a center fielder, but he did see 145 innings in left last year, and was below average to terrible depending on the advanced metrics you look at. Pederson has had his own troubles in the outfield, but played better last season.

With the designated hitter added to the National League this year, it offers an opportunity for both players to gain at-bats on days they aren’t playing in the field. Roberts said he doesn’t plan on using a full-time DH, so he will rotate players to give them partial days off.

3) Dodgers roster battles: Final bench spots

To provide pitchers with more time to strengthen their arms, teams will be allowed to carry 30 players on their active roster when the season begins. So while there will be four added roster spots, I wouldn’t expect them to be filled with positional players.

However, the Dodgers still have some decisions to make to fill out the back of their bench. Assuming they break camp with 16 pitchers, that leaves 14 openings for positional players.

We can start filling those spots with two catchers (Will Smith and Austin Barnes), Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, along with Joc Pederson and AJ Pollock. That brings us to ten. Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor are guaranteed spots, leaving two openings for Andrew Friedman and Dave Roberts to get creative.

Who will be in consideration for the final bench spots?

Both Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios should be the favorites, but Zach McKinstry, DJ Peters, and Luke Raley could all get consideration. With 60 games in 66 days, it’s possible the Dodgers decide to carry an extra catcher in Keibert Ruiz, but he will most likely serve on the taxi squad.

4) Dodgers roster battles: Bullpen roles

Perhaps the most intriguing thing to watch over the next few weeks is how the Dodgers decide to set their expanded bullpen heading into the season. They will be allowed to carry four extra players for the first two weeks of the schedule as starters stretch out their arms. It would seem logical that all of those extra roster spots will go to bullpen arms.

This creates an opening for young prospects who would have otherwise started the season in the minors, such as Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, and Brusdar Graterol.

If manager Dave Roberts only uses his regular starters for 3-4 innings in their first few starts, we could see May or Gonsolin come in to work those middle innings, which would be fun.

Beyond the bullpen arms expected to stick when the roster trims down to 26 players, relievers Adam Kolarek, Scott Alexander, Caleb Ferguson, and Josh Sborz could also receive consideration to be included on the early roster. Swing pitchers Dennis Santana, Victor Gonzalez, and Mitchell White also provide the Dodgers with arms who can make spot starts or work in long relief.