MLB team report: For Dodgers, time to win is now
About this series: Sports Weekly takes an in-depth look at each major league organization during the offseason, from the major leagues to the farm system. We start with teams with the worst records and move up. (First printed Feb. 8)
By re-signing free agents Justin Turner, Kenley Jansen and Rich Hill, the Los Angeles Dodgers kept in place the core of the club that secured a fourth consecutive National League West crown last year. They also filled a void at second base by trading for power-hitting Logan Forsythe. That’s all well and good, but a fan base that hasn’t witnessed a World Series game live since 1988 demands more. Paste BN Sports’ Jorge L. Ortiz sizes up the team. (*Denotes prospect)
MLB team report: Los Angeles Dodgers
Catcher
The December 2014 trade that sent Matt Kemp and cash to the San Diego Padres for Yasmani Grandal and pitching prospects looks better all the time. Grandal might not deliver a high batting average, but a switch-hitting catcher who hits 27 home runs is a rare luxury. Grandal is one of the game’s top pitch framers and a valuable asset in grooming lefty phenom Julio Urias, whose English skills are limited. At 28, Grandal has made one All-Star team and might have more in his future.
Depth chart: Grandal, Austin Barnes, Kyle Farmer, Bobby Wilson
First base
Entering his 14th season, Adrian Gonzalez continues to be a workhorse and a paragon of consistent run production. Gonzalez has played at least 156 games in each of the last 11 seasons and logged 90 RBI or more 10 years in a row. Though not the home run threat he once was, the 34-year-old veteran can still take outside pitches the opposite way with authority.
Depth chart: Gonzalez, Scott Van Slyke, Rob Segedin, Darin Ruf, Ike Davis, *Cody Bellinger
Second base
When they couldn’t pry Brian Dozier away from the Minnesota Twins, the Dodgers sent pitching prospect Jose de Leon to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Forsythe, who replaces Chase Utley at second. That gives them an infield with three players who reached the 20-homer mark last season, along with Turner and Corey Seager. (Gonzalez had 18.) Forsythe attained that distinction for the first time last year, when he put up a .778 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS). His defensive work is steady.
Depth chart: Forsythe, Kike Hernandez, Chris Taylor
Third base
Former utility man Turner has established himself as a premier third baseman, a superb fielder who set career highs last season with 27 homers and 90 RBI. No wonder the Dodgers shelled out $64 million to keep him for the next four years. Turner encountered more trouble with left-handers than usual, managing a .209 batting average against them. The Dodgers hope more contributions from Turner and newly arrived Forsythe will help them address their well-chronicled woes when facing lefties.
Depth chart: Turner, Segedin, Hernandez
Shortstop
Besides running away with the NL rookie of the year award, Seager finished third in MVP voting, played in 157 games, finished third on the team with 26 homers and produced a .877 OPS. He also displayed the steadiness of a 10-year veteran, both defensively and in the clubhouse. Seager is 22. The Dodgers have found a perennial All-Star.
Depth chart: Seager, Taylor, Hernandez
Left field
While center field is in safe hands, the Dodgers will host auditions for both corner-outfield spots. Two-time All-Star Andre Ethier enjoyed a nice bounce-back season in 2015 before missing most of last year with a broken leg. He’s in the last year of his contract. Rookie Andrew Toles made an impression by batting .314 after being called up in July and could add needed speed to the lineup. Trayce Thompson also brings speed and athleticism. And Scott Van Slyke is money against lefties. The competition for playing time should be interesting.
Depth chart: Ethier, Toles, Van Slyke, Thompson
Center field
Last season’s Joc Pederson was neither the sensational rookie of the first half of 2015, nor the clueless hitter of that year’s second half. Pederson found a medium spot that might not have been entirely happy, but he delivered enough offensive production along with excellent glove work. Pederson can draw a walk and pop home runs. The rest of his offensive skills need refinement.
Depth chart: Pederson, Thompson, Hernandez, Toles
Right field
This spot could be up for grabs, or Yasiel Puig could seize it and make it his own. It has become impossible to ascertain what to expect from the mercurial outfielder. The Dodgers have held on to Puig, 26, hoping he’ll grow up and fulfill his enormous potential. If he doesn’t, they’ll have plenty of options to choose from from among the players vying for the left-field job. It’s worth noting that Puig’s OPS has decreased in every season since his rookie mark of .925 in 2013.
Depth chart: Puig, Ethier, Toles, Hernandez, Thompson
Starting pitchers
Los Angeles withstood a rash of injuries to its starters in registering a respectable 3.70 staff ERA last season and should be even better this season especially if Hyun Jin-Ryu and Brandon McCarthy return to form. Clayton Kershaw was well on his way to a fourth Cy Young Award before a back injury sidelined him for more than two months and limited him to 21 starts. He still put up a sterling 1.69 ERA and left no doubt about who’s the game’s top starter. Hill lost some time to blisters, but the Dodgers were so impressed with his performance that they awarded him a three-year, $48 million contract despite his advanced age (36) and shaky track record before 2016. Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda ran out of gas toward the end but enjoyed a strong rookie season. Exciting youngster Julio Urias posted a 1.96 ERA over the last two months and might be ready for a bigger workload, though the Dodgers will closely monitor his innings. Scott Kazmir rounds out a left-handed-heavy rotation.
Depth chart: LHP Kershaw, LHP Hill, RHP Maeda, LHP Urias, LHP Kazmir, RHP McCarthy, LHP Ryu, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Ross Stripling, RHP Brock Stewart
Bullpen
Bringing back Jansen to close out games was imperative, which explains why he commanded a five-year, $80 million deal. He has struck out nearly 14 batters per nine innings through his seven-year career and last season registered all 47 of the Dodgers’ saves. The club has not re-signed Joe Blanton, last year’s top setup man, and might need to find a reliable bridge to Jansen from among a collection of relievers that includes lefties Adam Liberatore, Grant Dayton, Luis Avilan and Vidal Nuno, along with right-handers Pedro Baez and Chris Hatcher.
Depth chart: RHP Jansen, RHP Baez, LHP Liberatore, RHP Hatcher, LHP Nuno, LHP Dayton, LHP Avilan, RHP Josh Fields, RHP Josh Ravin, Stripling, RHP Yimi Garcia
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Offseason outlook
The Dodgers traded highly regarded Jose De Leon but retained several of their top prospects as they strive to maintain that tricky balance between contending in the present and gearing up for the future. So far, they’re pulling it off.
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Top five prospects
Excerpted from BaseballHQ.com’s 2017 Minor League Baseball Analyst. To order: Baseballhq.com/mlba2017:
1. Cody Bellinger, 1B: Bellinger, 21, has a quick left-handed stroke and power (56 home runs over the past two seasons). He has Gold Glove potential at first base but also the athleticism to play a corner outfield spot, which is where he might debut in the majors. He’ll report to Class AAA.
2. Alex Verdugo, OF: Verdugo, 20, has solid bat skills and developing power (13 homers in 2016), but he can be overly aggressive at the plate. He has no true standout tool but profiles as a solid all-around outfielder. He could use another year in the minors and might begin at Class AAA.
3. Yadier Alvarez, RHP: The Cuban flamethrower, 21, signed for $16 million in 2015. His fastball scrapes 100 mph on occasion and is backed up with a hard slider and a below-average changeup. Though he has overwhelmed low-level hitters (81 strikeouts in 591/3 innings), he has below-average control. He’ll work on his mechanics at advanced Class A.
4. Willie Calhoun, 2B: Calhoun, 22, got on the map by hitting 27homers in Class AA. He makes solid contact with a good understanding of the strike zone. A third baseman in college, he has below-average range and must work hard to stick at second base. He’ll report to Class AAA.
5. Gavin Lux, SS: The 20th overall pick in 2016 should add muscle to his large frame as he matures and projects to have above-average power. The 19-year-old has good hands and a plus arm and will make the step to full-season ball at Class A.
Rob Gordon
Gallery: Most notable offseason trades