Having re-signed Rich Hill, Kenley Jansen and Justin Turner, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ greatest area of need at present time is second base. A void was created when Chase Utley became a free agent after the 2016 season concluded and Howie Kendrick was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies.
For several weeks it appeared as though the Dodgers would acquire Brian Dozier in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. However, after several reports of ongoing trade talks, negotiations were said to have reached an impasse two weeks ago.
Since that point Los Angeles has again been connected to Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler and Tampa Bay Rays utility man Logan Forsythe. In addition, Texas Rangers second baseman and former top prospect Jurickson Profar was mentioned as a potential solution.
While the club continues their search for a second baseman, the Dodgers are also exploring trade options for a right-handed hitter, per ESPN’s Buster Olney:
Sources: As the Dodgers consider second base options, they continue to work on trade alternatives for a right-handed hitter.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) January 23, 2017
Players who fit that mold and have previously been linked to the Dodgers include Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun, Detroit’s J.D. Martinez and Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star center fielder Andrew McCutchen.
Braun reportedly was nearly traded to the Dodgers last August, with Brandon McCarthy and Yasiel Puig believed to be headed to Milwaukee. Los Angeles was said to have contacted Jose Bautista, though he’s since re-signed with the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Dodgers’ need for a right-handed bat became a clear need last season as the team regularly struggled against left-handed pitching. When recently asked if a priority was on acquiring a second-baseman or right-handed slugger, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman called the searches “interconnected.”
Viable right-handed hitting options to improve lineup
Friedman has also expressed confidence the Dodgers will naturally improve against southpaws this season, simply by players performing to their capabilities, and the likes of Kiké Hernandez, Trayce Thompson and Scott Van Slyke being healthy.
