Dodgers’ 2023 lineup without Trea Turner isn’t as impressive as it should be

The Los Angeles Dodgers treated the departure of Trea Turner as a foregone conclusion this offseason, knowing well before the shortstop had signed on the dotted line with the Philadelphia Phillies that he preferred the East Coast.

Just because Turner was always fated to leave, though, doesn’t give the Dodgers a reason to leave his spot in the infield bare, nor does it justify leaving the rotation middling.

At the moment, Gavin Lux is the Dodgers’ shortstop of the immediate future after serving as their long-game shortstop for several seasons prior. Rumors are split on whether Lux will survive the offseason at that position (and Andrew Friedman himself has endorsed him), but pending a reversal of fortune, the Dodgers don’t seem to be at the forefront of the conversation involving Carlos Correa, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson.

In that case, Lux might be their best option, and the rest of the lineup that follows him will be packed with several even younger new faces.

It might work. The Dodgers’ “bridge year” gambit might be successful in setting up the next generation. But in an offseason where the Padres and Giants were both willing to approach $400 million in their futile Aaron Judge chases, it would be nice to see LA show a little urgency to prevent this bare-bones lineup from taking the diamond on Opening Day.

Youth all over 2023 Dodgers lineup without Trea Turner. You sure about that, chief?

The bottom of the lineup (hell, all the way up to Muncy) is packed with intriguing depth options who probably shouldn’t be the first line of defense.

And who’s on the mound beyond Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urías, neither of whom are locked up for 2024 and beyond? The payroll situation practically SCREAMS, “Shohei Ohtani!” from where we’re standing, but a lot can change between the 2022 Winter Meetings and the end of the campaign. Ohtani and Perry Minasian could form a very special bond, solidified by hundreds of millions of dollars between friends.

The Dodgers will likely go all out for some combination of somebodies next offseason, especially with Walker Buehler back. Will Urías stay, or does Mark Prior think he can do better with less? Will Ohtani fill two voids with one fastball? Will Rafael Devers or Manny Machado (opt-out) be available? Andrew Friedman isn’t likely to lay back two offseasons in a row, even if letting the kids play works.

As of this moment in time, though, as the Winter Meetings are set to give way to Bleak January, the 2023 Dodgers’ lineup doesn’t have any new firepower to brag on, and seems quite likely to perform worse when the curtain rises on next season.

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