3 Dodgers players who will lose their roster spot after Teoscar Hernández signing

Miguel Vargas

Vargas, an international free agent signing for the Dodgers in 2017, shot up through the minors starting in 2018. He hit .315 before he was called up for the first time in 2022, prior to which he climbed MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Dodgers prospects list and peaked at No. 5. In 2023, Vargas played in 81 games from Opening Day to early July before he was sent back down, batting .195/.305/.367 at the major league level and largely playing second base. He hit well back in Triple-A but still struggled more than he ever had in the minors, with a career-worst .288 batting average.

Vargas' future with the Dodgers has been dubious ever since they made their intention to move Mookie Betts to second base in 2024 known. They could want to keep him as a depth option, but Chris Taylor fits that profile better as a provably versatile utility man who hit better than Vargas in 2023. It's possible he'll be off the 40-man by Opening Day via a semi-high-profile trade, but far less likely that he'll be on the 26-man. He has one more minor league option left, so the Dodgers could hold off and keep him until the start of the season to send him down without exposing him to the waiver process. Either way, he seems destined for the minors again.