Projecting Los Angeles Dodgers’ Opening Day roster for 2022

Dodgers Infield (8)

• Catchers: Will Smith, Austin Barnes
• IF: Justin Turner, Trea Turner, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Edwin Rios, Jonathan Villar

In case you spent the first several slides of this article scrolling down to see whether we’d be making the blockbuster Freddie Freeman signing or not, we just couldn’t project it with any confidence.

Could it happen? Absolutely. More likely than a Nolan Arenado trade? We’d say so, actually. Fewer hurdles to jump through. “An existing relationship with the Braves” isn’t a tougher barrier to clear than “The idea of surrendering assets to a division rival — oh, and they have to be a willing partner, too”.

For the purposes of this exercise, we’re projecting that Max Muncy will be back to near-full health on Opening Day, and so will Edwin Rios, who was lost for the season after shoulder surgery last May. This is especially likely if Opening Day occurs later than March 30, as we’re all starting to suspect it will.

The Universal DH might give Muncy some time off his feet, too, with Cody Bellinger filling in at first (though who knows if the MLBPA will even broach it…). On the oft chance Muncy’s not healthy, Bellinger can just plop himself there anyway, with AJ Pollock, Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts across the outfield.

Oh, no. I’ve already said too much…

Even if you believe in Gavin Lux, it still might help the Dodgers to add a versatile backup with speed and the agility to cover multiple positions. How about the dirt cheap and still effective Jonathan Villar?

Apologies to Tío Albert; his Dodgers career ends after an eventful 2021.