3 players Dodgers wish they still had on current roster

2. Manny Machado

Manny Machado is now directly competing with the Dodgers.

Though Manny Machado was terrible for the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series and paying him would’ve been almost impossible after the contract the team gave Betts, it’s tough to have him directly competing with LA at the moment.

Machado signed a $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres after his half-season with the Dodgers and is slashing .269/.344/.494 with 48 home runs and 132 RBI in 216 games since joining the NL West rivals. Plus, he’s got eight home runs and 24 RBI in 34 career games against the Dodgers.

Though it’s clear the front office didn’t want to pay him, LA has to figure something out now with Justin Turner set to hit free agency. We think everyone would 100% rather spent an extra $65 million for Betts, but Machado and his stellar defense at the hot corner for the foreseeable future would’ve been nice. Additionally, his bat would’ve been a lot more potent once he got settled in among the other studs in the Dodgers’ lineup.

The Dodgers led MLB with 118 home runs during the 60-game regular season and Turner only had four across his 42 games. We’re not saying Machado would be integral to the success of this lineup, but he’d provide an embarrassment of riches on the offensive end.

We all know the Dodgers print money, so, really, what’s another $300 million deal, especially when you have Turner, Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Chris Taylor and Jake McGee all coming off the books in the next year or two? Just a thought!