Of all positional groups on the Los Angeles Dodgers 40-man roster, the outfield perhaps has the most clarity as we sit roughly one month from Spring Training workouts beginning. However, clarity doesn’t necessarily equate to how every role will shake out, but more so who will be involved.
As it stands, the outfield features six players battling for five spots: Andre Ethier, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Trayce Thompson, Andrew Toles and Scott Van Slyke. Now that is a fascinating group.
Ethier enters the 2017 a wild card. In the final year of his contract, the veteran outfielder is coming off of a season in which he played just 16 games.
And yet, Ethier is only one year removed from a 3.0 WAR season in which he batted .294/.366/.486. So what do you do with a someone who will turn 35 years old eight games into the 2017 season?
Ethier’s competition in left field comes in the form of two youngsters: Trayce Thompson and Andrew Toles — both of whom are attractive for different reasons.
Thompson is interesting because he’s the team’s best bet to hit lefties and can play across the outfield. Toles, on the other hand, is likely the favorite to start thanks to what he did in 2016.
In his first season with the organization, Toles played across four different levels (High-A, Double-A, Triple-A and the Majors) and capped it off by posting 1.6 WAR in just 48 games with the Dodgers while batting .314/.365/.505.
In their recently-released 2017 ZiPS projections, Fangraphs listed Thompson and Toles as platoon mates in left field.
The other option you might see in left at some point is Van Slyke. Although, he may very well be the odd man out. Van Slyke’s primary role presumably will need to be as a backup to Adrian Gonzalez at first base and pinch-hitter off the bench.
But, it’s difficult to imagine a scenario where he beats out Ethier for a roster spot.
CONTINUE READING: Examining center field and right field
Of the three positions, center field is the most predictable: it’s Joc Pederson’s world. Criminally underrated by most because of his low batting average (.246), Pederson posted 3.6 WAR last season thanks in large part to 25 home runs, solid defense and an .847 on-base plus slugging percentage.
That brings us to right field, where the mercurial Yasiel Puig still resides. It’s amazing to think we’re just a few months removed from a “Yasiel Puig will never play for the Dodgers again” sentiment. And yet, Puig is here and rumors have all but disappeared.
And that’s a good thing. For all the flack he got, Puig was still an above-average player last season despite playing just 104 games. With clubhouse reports indicating there was improvement in Puig’s maturity level as the postseason unfolded, he’s a safe bet to be the team’s starting right fielder when 2017 begins.
Justin Turner and Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently spoke optimistically of the 26-year-old.
In looking at the big picture, the outfield remains one of the Dodgers’ strengths. All three projected starters (Toles, Pederson, Puig) are five-tool players loaded with potential.
Add in a solid platoon mate (Thompson) and some veteran depth (Ethier), and this group figures to factor prominently in the team’s bid for a fifth-straight National League West crown.
Previous installments of “State of the Dodgers” series include analysis of the 40-man roster, starting rotation and bullpen.