Will Jake Lamb squeeze somebody off Dodgers’ Opening Day roster?

Once upon a time, former Arizona Diamondbacks slugger Jake Lamb was an All-Star. That was back in 2017 before injuries took a toll on him.

Now, after flying under the radar since then, he’s at spring training with the Los Angeles Dodgers eyeing an Opening Day roster spot. He was signed to a minor-league contract but will earn $1.5 million if he makes the big league roster.

Lamb’s had trouble finding his footing ever since that 2017 season. He’s appeared in just 220 games over the last four years and has almost nothing to show for it. Four different teams. A ~.200 batting average. A well below-average OPS+. Nothing special on defense.

Might we see an awakening from the 31-year-old, though? So far this spring with LA, he’s hitting .357 with a 1.017 OPS in five games. He’s 5-for-14 with three runs scored, just two strikeouts, and this mammoth home run against the White Sox on Monday.

Can Jake Lamb steal an Opening Day roster spot on the Dodgers?

Yes yes, we know, it’s only spring training, but this is someone who’s already proven himself at the MLB level and is on the mend from a serious shoulder injury. His 2016 and 2017 campaigns with Arizona were no joke:

• 2016 – .249 AVG, .840 OPS, 114 OPS+, 81 runs scored, 29 homers and 94 RBI
• 2017 – .248 AVG, .844 OPS, 112 OPS+, 89 runs scored, 30 homers and 105 RBI

Additionally, the Dodgers will need some third base help this year. Both Chris Taylor and Max Muncy dealt with offseason elbow injuries, so it’s unclear how much relieving they’ll be able to do at third base when Justin Turner needs a day off or just a day in the DH spot.

Lamb has competition with Edwin Rios, Eddy Alvarez and Zach McKinstry, all of whom have played third base as recent as the 2021 season. Fans would like to think Lamb has the edge over Alvarez, who is a 32-year-old veteran with minimal MLB experience signed away from the Miami Marlins this offseason.

However, Rios and McKinstry will pose bigger threats. Rios is off to a hot start this spring after missing most of last year with a shoulder injury while McKinstry is on a mission to prove he can be the Swiss army knife the team was hyping him up to be heading into last year before injuries derailed his season.

Then again, with an abbreviated spring training, this is anyone’s game. And Lamb’s low-risk $1.5 million major league salary could sway the Dodgers into thinking they can reawaken a former All-Star and have him kill the San Francisco Giants once again (career .898 OPS with 31 extra-base hits in 77 games).

Dodgers trade former top prospect to Rays and sign ex-Giants pitcher

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