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
Rumors have swirled for a couple years now that they’d like to unload either Crawford or Ethier to free up space on the field.
My guess is Crawford is the one to go, if only because Ethier hit well last season (.294/.366/.486) — even if 90 percent of his at-bats came against righties.
Then again, Ethier’s stock might actually be worth buying at the moment, while Crawford remains an albatross. Guerrero is another who is likely to be moved.
Since signing him, the Dodgers have tried to find a position he can play well and here we are at the end of 2015 and I’m still not sure they’ve done it.
Compounding the problem is the fact that after mashing to start the season (nine home runs in April and May), he hit just two home runs from June through the end of the season, and ended with a lowly .261 OBP.
Even if both Guerrero and Crawford get moved, however, that still leaves the team with six outfielders — many of whom would be expecting to start.
If Puig is around, there’s no doubt he’s a starter. Same probably goes for Pederson and Ethier (if he’s still in town) to start the season.
That would leave Van Slyke as a platoon mate with Ethier, Hernandez as the team utility man and Schebler as the odd man out.
While many don’t know much about Schebler, TrueBlueLA had him rated as the team’s No. 6 prospect heading into last season and had this to say about him:
What makes Schebler a top prospect in the Dodgers system is his bat. Schebler has 60 or better grades on both his hit and power tool and has the potential to be a .285 hitter with 20+ home runs at the major league level.
Not bad for a sixth outfielder.
Free Agents: Heisey and Justin
I was curious if Ruggiano would be retained after how well he hit lefties down the stretch, but with a surplus of outfielders and a healthy Van Slyke, he becomes repetitive.
Heisey, on the other hand, was done in the Minors for the Dodgers and has already signed with the Washington Nationals.
Potential newcomers: None
If the Dodgers are going to make changes in the outfield this offseason, I’d have to assume it’ll be via trade.
Honestly, though, I don’t see anything wrong with an outfield consisting of Ethier, Hernandez, Pederson, Puig, Schebler and Van Slyke, which suggests there isn’t much room for improvement.
Some have thrown around the name Jason Heyward as a possible target, but I can’t imagine the Dodgers are going to spend $150-200 million on an outfielder with the type of need they have at starting pitching.