With roughly three weeks until pitchers and catchers report to Camelback Ranch for the start of Spring Training, the Los Angeles Dodgers remain focused on upgrading the second base position for the 2017 season.
After weeks of dialogue with the Minnesota Twins regarding Brian Dozier, the two clubs couldn’t reach an agreement on the complete prospect package going back to Minnesota. As a result, talks have reportedly reached an impasse, though it wouldn’t be surprising to see a deal eventually completed in the weeks ahead.
Other second basemen the Dodgers are said to have held trade talks for are Ian Kinsler of the Detroit Tigers and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Logan Forsythe. While the two would certainly upgrade the position for the Dodgers, a trade for either seems unlikely at this point.
The 34-year old Kinsler is reportedly unwilling to waive his no-trade clause for Los Angeles unless he receives a contract extension. And the Rays may be reluctant to move Forsythe, considering their lack of depth at the position and desire to compete this year.
Dustin Ackley, Stephen Drew and Chase Utley area mong the free agent second basemen still on the market. Given the Dodgers’ need for a right-handed bat that can hit left-handed pitching, all three players don’t appear to be a match.
Though, Los Angeles can conceivably re-sign Utley for a utility role to keep his leadership around for another season. That being said, the team is casting an even wider net in their search for a second baseman.
The latest report indicated the Dodgers have spoken to the Texas Rangers about former top prospect Jurickson Profar.
CONTINUE READING: Evaluating a potential trade for Jurickson Profar
Profar, who will turn 24 years old in February, has yet to live up to superstar expectations placed on him after being named the consensus No. 1 prospect in 2013 by Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus and MLB.com.
The versatile infielder showed glimpses of his potential during the first half of the 2016 season — his first big league action in three years — batting .323/.363/.465 with 41 hits and 21 runs scored in 135 plate appearances.
Unfortunately for Profar, he slumped mightily in the second half, posting a feeble .516 on-base plus slugging percentage in 172 plate appearances. For the season, he batted .239 and tallied 14 extra-base hits while playing five different positions in the field — amounting to 0.0 bWAR.
A season-long shoulder injury in 2014 stunted Profar’s growth to say the very least. Since debuting in 2012, he’s appeared in just 184 Major League games. He saw 12 games of Minor League action in 2015 but missed the majority of the season after injuring his shoulder for a second consecutive year.
At the moment, there doesn’t appear to be an everyday spot for Profar in Texas. Former Dodger Adrian Beltre occupies third base, while Elvis Andrus and Rougned Odor cover the middle infield.
Many have speculated that the Rangers will eventually sign first baseman Mike Napoli as well, which would leave Profar with limited playing time in a crowded outfield or as the designated hitter — though Joey Gallo and Ryan Rua also figure to get some at-bats in that capacity.
For these reasons, it makes sense for the Rangers to entertain the idea of trading Profar. While they would essentially be selling low on him, the Dodgers have a plethora of pitching prospects that would appeal to the Rangers.
Though Texas would likely ask for Jose De Leon in any swap between the two teams, the Dodgers also tout lesser, but nonetheless quality options in Brock Stewart, Josh Sborz and Chase De Jong — just to name a few.
Another potential factor in the Rangers possibly trading Profar is the fact that he is eligible for free agency in three years. The longer they prolong a deal, the less value they’ll receive in return (as is the case with the Twins holding on to Dozier).
If acquired, the Dodgers would be banking on Profar’s upside and health to hold up, rather than his production at the Major League level to date.
Profar was dynamic in the Minors but still doesn’t have a full MLB season under his belt. Perhaps a change of scenery and an everyday role in Los Angeles will help him develop into the game-changing, cornerstone player that he is still expected to become.
Steamer projections currently peg Profar with a .260/.329/.393 slash line and 0.3 fWAR in 283 plate appearances this season. On the offset, those numbers don’t appear impressive, but the system is taking into fact that Profar will likely be featured in a utility role, rather than an everyday player.
Whether or not Profar will don Dodger Blue remains to be seen, but it’s clear the club will have to be creative in order to upgrade the second base position for the 2017 season.