4 big moves at Winter Meetings Dodgers fans should be anticipating

3. Dodgers sign a right-handed bat to replace Justin Turner

The Dodgers declined Justin Turner’s club option for the 2023 season earlier this offseason. While that does not rule out Turner returning to Los Angeles, you would think that the Dodgers would have something bigger planned than bringing back the regressing veteran.

Jose Abreu would have been a perfect Turner replacement, but he decided to sign with the Houston Astros. There are still other alternatives for the Dodgers to consider, and at the end of the day, all they should be looking for is a right-handed bat that can hit in the middle of the order.

There is so much versatility and flexibility in the players that Los Angeles already has that they can go out and target really any position. They could sign someone like J.D. Martinez to primarily DH, making Max Muncy the full-time third baseman. They could also sign an outfielder like Mitch Haniger to be a more reliable option than, say, Trayce Thompson.

Regardless, this team would really benefit from adding a middle-of-the-order right-handed bat. Both the players on the roster and the prospects that are ready to start are heavily left-handed. The talented right-handed bats that they do have are reverse-splits guys, meaning they are worse against southpaws.

Finding someone who can not only be consistent but also be a legitimate threat against left-handed pitching would be fantastic for the dynamic of this lineup. If push comes to shove, the Dodgers could also just bring Turner back for cheaper.