As the second half of the 2019 MLB season is now underway, the Los Angeles Dodgers are continuing their pursuit of a seventh-straight National League West championship, hoping to also return to and win the World Series.
Owners of the best record in baseball, the Dodgers received reinforcements this week as Corey Seager, A.J. Pollock and David Freese were all activated off the injured list. Each was in the lineup for Friday’s series opener against the Boston Red Sox in a rematch of the World Series.
Neither made much of an impact, however, as the trio combined to go 1-for-11 with one walk in the Dodgers’ 8-1 loss at Fenway Park.
With the Dodgers likely to be active before the July 31 trade deadline, manager Dave Roberts considers getting three players like Seager, Pollock and Freese back as notable acquisitions in their own sense, via SportsNet LA:
“It’s kind of like we just made a nice trade acquisition, or acquisitions. It just infuses life. You’ve got players that started (the season) with us and to kind of mix those guys in, I know speaking about A.J., it’s been so long since he’s played that I know he’s chomping at the bit. To get him in there is great. And Corey, it’s been a few weeks, but before he got hurt he was swinging the bat so well and playing well. So to get him back is obviously a great thing. Freese, spent a short time (on the injured list) but to get his bat in the lineup is going to be great. Their teammates are excited and it’s a good way to start the second half.”
Pollock was one of the Dodgers’ marquee free-agent additions this past winter, although his time with the club got off to a rocky start. Pollock struggled some and underwent elbow surgery after a cut became infected.
The loss of Seager was really a tough one for the Dodgers considering he was swinging the bat as well as he had all season before going down with a hamstring injury in June. If he can regain that form then that would be like adding another All-Star to one of the most potent lineups in baseball.
The Dodgers acquired Freese at last year’s waiver trade deadline and he has been outstanding for them ever since.
With all three back in the fold, Roberts has a full array of options at his disposal. While he noted it may require players to ‘sacrifice’ for the betterment of the team, he ultimately considers the embarrassment of riches a worthwhile issue to juggle.
