Examining the Potential Dodgers 25-Man Roster
- Updated: January 8, 2016
It’s a new year but it’s still the off-season. Pitchers and catchers report to the sprint training complex in Arizona on February 19th, with the first workout scheduled for the next day, the 20th. The rest of the players report on February 24th and the first full workout will be on February 25th and while we don’t know if the Dodgers front office is done shopping we are starting to get a clearer picture of what the team will be for the upcoming season.
This list is mainly my guess on what the players will be, their role and some insights I think are relevant.
Starting Lineup
Baseball’s best framer is back for his 2nd season with the Dodgers and he is hopefully injury free and able to hit like he did in the first half
In his 5th season with the Dodgers, he’s Mr. Consistent, giving us at least 20 HR and 90 RBI every year with Gold Glove defense at 1B
2B Chase Utley
Definitely a controversial signing but he’s a veteran presence and always comes to play. Still a valuable player, will split time with Hernandez at 2B
A knee injury slowed him down towards the end of the season but his bat was still potent and was the Dodgers best hitters in the NLDS
SS Corey Seager
Seager came up in September and played his way onto the playoff roster, cementing his spot at the 2016 SS. Practically has the Rookie of the Year award wrapped up before the season starts
LF Andre Ethier
Ethier had his best season since 2013 but I’m skeptical he’ll be as good as last season. However, if he can hit his career average I can live with that
CF Joc Pederson
The runner up in the home run derby, Joc Pederson, petered off in the 2nd half of the season and as we go into the new season which will we see?
RF Yasiel Puig
A series of leg injuries never allowed Puig to really get going after coming off the disabled list on June 6th, the Dodgers, and their fans, hope he can regain form and cement his place at the top of the lineup again.
Bench
Kershaw’s best friend and sorta/kinda personal catcher/platoon catcher vs LHP, a steady influence on the team and one of the games if not the best pitch calling catcher
IF/OF Enrique Hernandez
A monster against left-handed pitching and played everywhere but first and catcher, will platoon vs LHP with Chase Utley and be 2nd or 3rd back up to every position on the field.
OF/1B Scott Van Slyke
After a really strong 2014, his 2015 was good but underwhelming and is an underrated defender. Hoping he bounces back and becomes the lefty masher we know and love
Carl Crawford was slowed by injuries but came on strong in the end. Where have we heard that before? Oh yeah, in 2014 and 2013. Let’s hope he can stay healthy and be a strong back up and possible replacement for Ethier if he starts slow or gets hurt himself
3B/LF Alex Guerrero
After an absolutely unconscious start and several calls for him to get more time, slowed down a lot and now we don’t really know what to expect from him. Will be Turner’s main back up at 3B and play some LF, maybe. Or he might just be a pinch hitter and DH in AL parks, who knows.
Starting Pitchers
LHP Clayton Kershaw
Best pitcher in the game, sure fire hall of famer, should’ve won his 4th Cy Young last year. He’s great, he’ll be great this year and for many years to come. The ace on every team in baseball.
LHP Hyun-jin Ryu
A shoulder injury sidelined Ryu for the whole season but when healthy one of baseballs most underrated pitchers. If he can be healthy, should help mitigate the loss of Zack Greinke.
LHP Brett Anderson
Signed for 1 year, no one expected much but was baseball’s best ground ball pitcher and pitched his first full season since his rookie year in 2009, don’t know what to expect but another healthy season and a steady arm in the rotation would be great
LHP Scott Kazmir
Signed as a free agent, Kazmir is another player with past injury troubles but he’s had 3 straight relatively healthy seasons and his contract is low risk.
LHP Alex Wood
Acquired at the trading deadline last season, a lot of fans didn’t know who he was nor understand why we would trade for someone not named David Price, Johnny Cueto or Cole Hamels. Was solid, had some great games and should provide some value if not in the rotation then he can come out the pen as a long man and get lefties out.
RHP Kenta Maeda
Signed from Japan, we don’t know what to expect, a lot of scouts project him as a #4/#5 starter because he doesn’t have overpowering stuff but he got people out in Japan and was one of their best starters. His physical from Japan showed some possible elbow issues, so nothing new. I hope he surprises and becomes of the Dodgers better pitchers.
Bullpen
LHP Luis Avilan
Acquired along with Alex Wood from Atlanta, he’s a left-handed non-lefty specialist. He was just as good vs right-handed hitters as he was left-handed. Good, solid, middle reliever.
RHP Pedro Baez
Converted catcher who can turn the radar gun up to 98 mph. Not always consistent but the talent is there.
RHP Yimi Garcia
“Gimmie Yimi” was the shout after spring training last season and we got him and he didn’t disappoint, hoping his sophomore campaign is more consistent and he can stay healthy.
LHP J.P. Howell
Opted into his player option when most thought he wouldn’t take it so he could get more years and/or more money on the market. We’ll take it, he was really good early on and faded late, might need to be handled a bit better to keep his effectiveness until late in the season. If Dave Roberts can accomplish that, he can be dangerous in the playoffs.
RHP Chris Hatcher
Was good, then terrible, then got hurt and came back with a new pitch or two and was the team’s best reliever after Kenley Jansen, so much so that he was promoted to set-up man in the playoffs and didn’t disappoint. Which Hatcher will we get? I hope post injury but you never know.
RHP Kenley Jansen
The best reliever in baseball to never go to an All Star game, Jansen always seems to get a nagging injury early, miss time and not make the team. I hope he stays healthy and gets the recognition he deserves.
So that’s 8 position starters, 5 off the bench, 6 starters, 6 relievers, for 25 players
Barring a trade or a surprise this is what we will get. I can see the Dodgers making a move for another utility player as I can’t imagine they’re too comfortable with Alex Guerrero being the primary backup at 3B and Hernandez and Utley don’t have a lot of experience there.
Another addition might be another relief pitcher if they can pull it, they’ve been looking for can’t get anyone to bite. We had Chapman but uh, yeah. For those that felt the Dodgers didn’t prioritize personality over talent, they showed that there are some things they will not tolerate and domestic abuse was one. Even though it sucked that we missed out on him, at least he’s a Yankee and out of the National League.
A lot of the projections have the team from 88-100 wins, and nearly all of them have them winning the National League West again, which will be great but I want more.
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