Outfield
The good news is Joc Pederson established himself as an offensive threat. The bad news is the rest of the outfield situation is unstable. Do the Dodgers give Andrew Toles a regular gig after his unlikely debut?
Is Andre Ethier’s leg going to hold up over a full season? Does Puig receive yet another chance to prove himself?
Free agency provides some interesting options. Jose Bautista just turned 36 years old and won’t get a long-term deal. He’s coming off a down season in which he was still a good hitter, but his defense has taken a turn for the worse.
Other free agent options are less attractive. Dexter Fowler probably priced himself out of Los Angeles with his big 2016, and would need to move to a corner spot with the Dodgers. Ian Desmond and Carlos Gomez are likely going to sign short-term deals but may not be better options than Puig.
Mark Trumbo and Carlos Beltran are more a first baseman and designated hitter, respectively. Which brings us back to Braun.
Rumor had it that the Dodgers were close to dealing Puig, Brandon McCarthy and a pair of prospects for the Brewers slugger. Other reports indicated the deal wasn’t imminent. Either way, adding that type of bat to the Dodgers’ lineup would be a coup.
Another name that’s been brought up in trade chatter is J.D. Martinez. Again, the Tigers aren’t guaranteed to be sellers, but packaging Martinez with Kinsler would kill two birds with one stone.
Martinez isn’t known for his defense, but he’s been one of the better hitters in the Majors over the past three seasons. He’s a free agent after the 2017 season.
This is another area where the Dodgers probably improve themselves via trade. Even though it feels like a Puig trade is imminent, the Dodgers could stand pat. Leave Puig in right field and Pederson in center, and platoon Toles with a healthy Scott Van Slyke or Trayce Thompson in left.
CONTINUE READING: What To Expect At Winter Meetings
