2026 in Preview: Centerfield and Rightfield
You Can’t Consider CF without Considering RF I don’t think we see what the final alignment of the outfield will be at this time. A move or “moves” have to be made: Kyle Tucker is a long shot. The Dodgers (rightfully) have little interest in Cody Bellinger. Luis Robert, Jr. and…
You Can’t Consider CF without Considering RF
I don’t think we see what the final alignment of the outfield will be at this time. A move or “moves” have to be made:
- Kyle Tucker is a long shot.
- The Dodgers (rightfully) have little interest in Cody Bellinger.
- Luis Robert, Jr. and Harrison Bader would be downgrades.
- Byron Buxton would be a disaster or a genius move with 10 to 1 odds against the latter.
- The Red Sox are asking for a King’s Ransom for Jarren Duran, but no one has pulled the trigger. I think the Dodgers can put together a package the Red Sox will like, centered on Sheehan et al. However, we don’t know.
Tommy Edman will likely not be ready to start the season, but all hands point to his being ready in May. Andy Pages has improved incrementally on defense throughout the 2025 season and could play there in 2026. Teoscar is horrible in RF and needs to play LF. I see two possibilities:
1. Trade for Duran and let him play CF; or
2. Put Teo in LF and Pages in RF and play Alex Call in CF until Edman and maybe Kike Return.
I prefer Option 1. Boston wants pitching. I love Sheehan, but I am willing to trade him for a hitter like Duran. It will take more than Sheehan, but I would consider it. Maybe Boston wants to keep Duran. I get that, so I would be willing to trade for Wilyer Abreu, a left-handed right fielder, which would move Pages back to CF. I am okay with that, as well. Sheehan for Abreu? Get ‘er done! If the Red Sox wanted Hyeseong Kim as well, I would not say no. Duran or Abreu (one of them) is the final piece.
Abreu would platoon with Alex Call in RF. Abreu is 26 and projectable to be a 30 HR guy. Maybe one of the Dodgers outfield prospects will be ready in the second half of 2026! If the Dodgers don’t do anything, Alex Call could start the season as the centerfielder. Alex Call’s defensive reputation, especially in center field, skews toward above-average to solid rather than elite — he’s got good tools. He gets the job done, but he doesn’t profile as a top-tier defender relative to the very best CFs in the league. Still, he could fill in until an elite Centerfielder appeared. Metrics and scouting reports peg Call as having good reactions and decent range, which helps him cover ground in the outfield. He’s not the fastest sprinter in the league, but his instincts and reads boost his effectiveness. Alex has above-average arm strength for an outfielder.
Alex Call in CF has to be a consideration. We shall see! He has a career OPS of .712, but OPS’ed .746 last year. He’s very close to Harrison Bader in career hitting, but not his equal in defense. Still, he ain’t shabby! The next time, we will look at starting pitching! Try this lineup out (no trades):
- Ohtani DH
- Betts SS
- Freeman 1B
- Smith C
- Muncy 3B
- Hernandez LF
- Kim/Rojas 2B
- Pages RF
- Call CF
So, we wait!
More from Dodger Talk
Dodgers Food Trailer
I did this interview a couple of weeks ago with Chef Mike, who runs the Dodgers Food Trailer for the Great Lakes Loons. They are there for every home and road regular season and playoff game. They prepare three meals a day for approximately 50 people (players and coaches). Since games end late most evenings, they do not prepare breakfast. Many of their hotels have a complimentary breakfast anyway. However,…
Meet LAD 2026 Draft Picks 1-12
3 picks were High School players (2 SS and 1 OF). There was a college OF, college catcher, college SS, and 10 college pitchers. Of all the talk for a need for a catcher, the only catcher the Dodgers selected was Luke Bard, son of LAD bullpen coach Josh Bard. Bard was a 4th year senior from Houston Christian University. He is not a prospect, so the Dodgers are still…
Interview with Paul Beachy – Team Bus Driver For The Great Lakes Loons (LA Dodgers Minor League Team)
It’s been a few days since I did this interview. We have evidently been working my son-in-law (the video guy) like a rented mule at US Water Systems. However, I am taking him to London with me in a few days, so maybe Watford will buy him a pint as a tip, but he’s a dang Red Sox fan, so there is that! I thought that it would be interesting…
Thanks for Your Service: Chris Taylor
I was going to do this post when Chris announced he was retiring, then he changed his mind, but since the chances of him ever playing for the Dodgers again are slim and non-existent, I will go ahead with this post. He unretired, went on the IL, then decided to call it quits on May 24th. Taylor was born in Virginia Beach VA on August 29th, 1990. He attended Great…
Discussion (59)
Disagree, not disagreeable
You are kudding. How did I miss that.
Only five players left on the roster from the 2020 Champs. Smith, Muncy, Betts, Graterol, and Treinen. Pop signs MLB deal with the Phillies.
Buster Onley reporting that the dodgers are “hovering” over both the Bichette and Tucker markets waiting for long term deals to fail to develop so they can get one or the other on a short term deal with higher average salary. Similar to the way the Freddie Freeman market developed (or rather didn’t develop) leading to a deal with LA.
Bichette makes more sense to me than Tucker. I’ve been advocating for his signing since the start of the free agent signing period. We don’t really need Tucker with all the outfield prospects a year or two away. We may even see one or two of them in 2026. Bo Bichette is represented by Vayner Sports, NOT BORASS..He was previously represented by CAA Sports. Vayner Sports is a sports agency that represents numerous professional athletes across various sports.
Muncy,Treinen and Rojas should NO longer be Dodgers after the 2026 season.
I think that ultimately, both will get 7 to 8-year deals. Both are “nice” players. Neither is a “superstar.”
For those that are interested, the International Signing Period starts next Thursday January 15th on Martin Luther King Day. By signing Edwin Diaz the Dodger’s signing pool was reduced by 1 million dollars.The Dodger’s revised signing pool number is $5,679,200.
I believe Bichette gets a high annual salary and a shorter deal probably 5 years with opt outs.He is better than the Dodgers presently have to play second base with right handed power and batting average.
FYI: MLB teams can trade International Signing Bonus Pool money, and they do it quietly all the time. Think of it as swapping lottery tickets rather than players. Under MLB rules (set by the CBA), each team gets an International Signing Bonus Pool every year to sign amateur players outside the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Teams may trade pool money to other teams Pool money cannot be traded for cash directly It’s usually bundled with players or draft picks A team cannot exceed 60% over its original pool, even after trades Pool money expires after that signing period You can’t “bank” it for future years Trades must be completed before the international signing deadline
Treinen and Rojas for sure will be gone, Rojas plans to retire and enter coaching. Muncy will most likely be gone, but he could land with another team depending on how healthy he remains and what kind of stats he puts up in 26. 27 is not a certainty yet.
Sweet potato fries are the best!
Golden beets are the best beats! I actually miss growing them. Not a thing in Panama.
The difference is that Freeman was 31, Tucker is 28, and Bichette is 27.
Projected Dodgers Signing Rubel Arias (Dominican Republic, OF): The only projected Dodgers signee among the current top 50 international prospects by Baseball America, Arias is a 17-year-old outfielder. He is an athletic outfielder with good physical projection.
Per Andrew Marchand: NEWS: Clayton Kershaw a top studio target for NBC in its return to baseball on Sunday Nights, The Athletic has learned.
He’d be absolutely great. Hope he decides to do it.
Moves involving former Dodgers made today. Justin Dean DFAd by the Giants. Kirby Yates signing with the Angels finalized. Justin Bruhl traded to the Cardinals by Cleveland for cash.
So should we be looking for a replacement for Muncy this year, maybe move one of the OF in the minors to 3B in preparation for the inevitable or get a FA or trade?
Siani might be next lol
Watch out for Arizona
Kim doesn’t need power to be an everyday player. What he needs to do is (cue “Moneyball”) GET ON BASE. Especially batting 9th, ahead of Shohei and Mookie. Or maybe Shohei and Tucker…
I would certainly trade Sheehan for Duran or Abreu. Both players are far more proven than Sheehan is. Nothing against Sheehan…..but didn’t Bobby Miller also have a strong rookie season? Plus, River Ryan and Gavin Stone should be ready to step up. I’ll say it again: The Dodgers could do nothing more before Opening Day and still be the favorites to win the World Series. Or they could also go a little bit bonkers and sign Bichette and pull off a blockbuster trade. Very unlikely but plausible lineup: Shohei DH Mookie SS Freddie 1B Buxton CF Smith C Max 3B Bichette 2B Teo LF Pages RF Or maybe Duran instead of Buxton… Some speculation lately that the Dodgers, by hanging around that backboard, could wind up with Tucker or Bichette–whoever doesn’t sign wiith the Jays.
Scouting Report and Profile “Scouts highlight Arias as a well-rounded athlete with several “plus” tools: Offensive Profile: He is a left-handed hitter known for an advanced feel for hitting and significant bat speed. While currently described as having a “skinny frame,” scouts expect him to develop above-average power as he matures physically. Speed and Defense: He is considered a plus runner with a strong arm, making him a likely candidate to remain in center field. Training Background: He trained with fellow Dodgers prospect Emil Morales, who has already emerged as a top-10 prospect in the organization. Immediate 2026 Expectations Signing Details: He is projected to sign for a seven-figure bonus shortly after the international signing period opens on January 15, 2026. Professional Debut: Following his signing, he is expected to begin his professional career in the Dominican Summer League (DSL), the standard entry point for international teenagers. 2026 MLB International Prospects Bonus Board Jan 4, 2026 — Rubel Arias ranked No. 47 on Baseball America’s list of top international prospects expected to receive seven figure bonus”.
“LOS ANGELES — As we all await the first days of spring and the return of baseball, what better way to pass the time than reliving some of the top moments from one of the best to play the game? Today marks “Shohei Day” on MLB Network, featuring an entire day of programming focused around Shohei Ohtani’s astounding achievements in the Majors. The broadcast date, Jan. 7 (1/7), is a nod to the No. 17 that the Dodgers superstar has worn throughout his Major League career”.
Two Los Angeles Dodgers players are currently in Venezuela: pitcher Edgardo Henriquez and prospect Eduardo Quintero. Both are safe, and the Dodgers organization is actively working to help them return to the United States amidst recent travel disruptions there.