Dodgers: 4 roster battles to watch in spring training 2.0

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.