3 Dodgers whose futures are now in question after Mookie Betts' position change

Gavin Lux

One of the bigger unknowns going into 2024 for the Dodgers -- other than all of this Ohtani nonsense -- is what to expect out of Gavin Lux. Lux appeared to be on the fast track to being LA's starting shortstop for years to come before he tore his ACL and missed the entire season.

Knee injuries are tricky, especially when it comes to guys who need to make quick-twitch moves in the infield. Double that at shortstop. Perhaps in an ideal world, LA would prefer to play Lux at second to take some of the pressure off of him as he returns from injury. With Betts installed at second base, that isn't an option that is going to be available, as there is no shot that Lux is going to take playing away from one of the best players in baseball.

The good news is that all of the reports on Lux's recovery appear to be good. No one has reported any setbacks during his rehab and, by all accounts, he will be healthy and ready to roll for spring training. The best guess here is that Lux will enter spring training as the prohibitive favorite to be LA's starting shortstop assuming he is fully recovered.

Lux simply doesn't have much room for error at the end of the day. Missing an entire year is bound to make him a bit rusty, and it isn't like there weren't concerns over his ability to be an impact bat before he got hurt. Going into 2023, he was coming off two straight seasons with single-digit home run totals with OPS-es south of .750. If he struggles defensively at short and/or at the plate, second base is no longer another option and Lux could become roster dead weight in a hurry.