In a new series of posts over the next few weeks, we’re taking a look at each of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ position groups; analyzing which players are gone, which players are returning and which free agents might be on the team’s radar.
Click here to see our pieces on starting pitching and the bullpen.
If there’s one position group on the roster that is expected (read: hoping) to see the most action this offseason, it might be the outfielders.
With EIGHT outfielders on the 40-man roster who are Major-League quality and a front office bent on making waves, anything could happen.
At the moment, the outfielders are Carl Crawford (34 years old), Andre Ethier (33), Alex Guerrero (29), Kiké Hernandez (24), Joc Pederson (23), Yasiel Puig (24), Scott Schebler and Scott Van Slyke (29).
As a result of their depth (and injuries), the Dodgers had 10 outfielders see the field last season (when including Chris Heisey and Justin Ruggiano), with everyone but Heisey, Ruggiano and Schebler receiving over 180 at-bats.
And, despite the constant movement, the Dodgers outfielders performed really well.
According to Fangraphs, the Dodgers’ group of outfielders finished with the fifth-highest WAR, 10th-highest on-base percentage, eighth-highest slugging percentage and the third-most home runs.
That was despite getting just 79 games from their best outfielder — Puig. But what will the Dodgers do with the surplus heading into next season?
CONTINUE READING: State Of The Dodgers Outfield
