Dodgers pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report for spring training on Feb. 8. As we count down the days until camp begins, we are going through the various position groups to give a breakdown of where the roster stands. Today, a look at the infield. Previously: Outfielders, catchers.
2023 RECAP
In his second year with the Dodgers, Freddie Freeman had a historic season. He led the majors with 90 extra-base hits, including 59 doubles, the most by any hitter since 1936. He had his first 200-hit season, finishing second in the majors with 211. He was also third in batting average (.331), tied for third in on-base percentage (.410), sixth in OPS (.977) and second in runs scored (131) while finishing third in the National League MVP voting. Along the way, he recorded his 300th career home run and 2,000th career hit, becoming only the 98th player in baseball history to have both. Alongside Freeman in the MVP voting and increasingly on the infield was Mookie Betts. He finished second in the MVP voting after batting .307 with a career-high 39 home runs and the most RBIs ever by a leadoff hitter (107) while starting 62 games at second base and 12 at shortstop. Betts’ infield work was the eventual result of Gavin Lux’s season-ending knee injury in spring training and top prospect Miguel Vargas’ flop at second base. Lux didn’t play a game after tearing ligaments in his right knee. Vargas was the everyday second baseman until being demoted at midseason with a .195 batting average. Miguel Rojas stabilized the infield defensively as Lux’s replacement at shortstop but offered little offensively. After a slow start, Max Muncy rebounded from a poor season in 2022 to hit 36 home runs and join Freeman, Betts and DH J.D. Martinez in a foursome of 100-RBI bats in the Dodgers’ lineup.
HOW IT LOOKS RIGHT NOW
The Dodgers will have a new pairing up the middle. Manager Dave Roberts said he spoke with Betts about his role in 2024 and told him he would be the everyday second baseman. The Dodgers plan to ask Betts to “kick out” to right field only occasionally. Lux is expected to be back at full strength and make his delayed return to shortstop, his original position, after a year spent rehabbing from his knee injury. Rojas or Chris Taylor could spell him frequently. Freeman and Muncy return at the corners with Muncy’s defense potentially a problem. He ranked near the bottom among major-league third basemen last year in nearly every defensive metric.
THE NEXT LAYER
The Dodgers have protection in Rojas and Taylor if Lux is not ready to step back in at shortstop. Vargas will likely have to re-establish his prospect status at Triple-A but could see time at second or third base if the Dodgers have a need there. They also added depth, signing former first-round draft pick Trey Sweeney and experienced utility infielder Jonathan Arauz to non-roster deals with invitations to spring training.
MOVES THEY COULD MAKE
Vargas and Michael Busch were the Dodgers’ top position player prospects a year ago. Unfortunately for them, they both profile as corner infielders and had no real path to playing time with the Dodgers. Busch was traded to the Chicago Cubs during the winter (where he is expected to play first base). Vargas is still with the Dodgers because they value his potential as a hitter. But Betts’ move to the infield further blocks Vargas’ access to big-league at-bats. If he can start strong in Triple-A, Vargas’ future might be as a midseason trade chip.
