2026 in Preview: Second Base and Shortstop
Today, we will focus our sights on 2B and SS. We will look at potential trades, free-agent signings, and minor-league prospects. Here we go… Second Base Perhaps there is no other position in which the Dodgers could upgrade through trade or free agency than 2B. Bo Bichette…
Today, we will focus our sights on 2B and SS. We will look at potential trades, free-agent signings, and minor-league prospects. Here we go…
Second Base
Perhaps there is no other position in which the Dodgers could upgrade through trade or free agency than 2B. Bo Bichette remains unsigned, but that is going to require a commitment of around (more or less) $200,000,000! I like Bo Bichette, but there is no guarantee his knee will return to 100% of what it was. In fact, he was diagnosed with a PCL sprain in his left knee, and he and the team expected it to heal with rest and rehabilitation. He did not require surgery. I would not be willing to sign him to a big free agent deal without assurance that his knee would be fine going forward… and there are no guarantees.
Instead, I would look to trade for Brendan Donovan, who is under team control until 2028. Alex Freeland, Hyeseong Kim, and another OF prospect (Tibbs or Davalan) should get the job done. Donovan can play all over, but I see him more valuable as a 2B where he grades out above average. He would improve the bottom third of the Dodgers’ lineup dramatically.
Other players who could see time here:
- Miguel Rojas – The Wizard of Glove can play anywhere in the infield.
- Kike Hernandez – If Kim and Freeland are traded, he will be back, and he means more emotionally to this team than he does statistically. Oh, and he can play every position at a high defensive level. After offseason surgery, he just might hit better as well.
- Max Muncy– While he can play 2B, it’s unlikely, as he is needed at 3B.
- Tommy Edman – While he won’t be ready at the start of the season due to ankle surgery, he is an accomplished defensive 2B, as well as a CF’er and 3B man.
- Mookie Betts – Maybe in a year or two.
Shortstop
Mookie Betts arguably turned himself into the best defensive shortstop in baseball in 2025. He will most definitely be there again in 2026 and probably 2027. We have no clue if it was an “offensive decline”, “age erosion,” or other issues, such as learning a new position and being sick at the beginning of the season. Maybe it was all of the above.
Logic tells us that he won’t put up a 1.078 OPS as he did en route to winning the MVP in 2018, but I also don’t expect a .732 OPS as he put up last year. Frankly, I see him as a .850 OPS player, and if he does that, he should still hit #2.
Other players who could see time here:
- Miguel Rojas – “Wizard of Glove”
- Tommy Edman
- Kike Hernandez
Of course, most of this is conjecture, as no trade or free-agent signing has yet happened. Alex Freeland is my favorite player, and I seldom have favorites, but it is because of what he has overcome, not his raw potential. He can play every day with the Cardinals. He might not make the Dodgers’ big club. So… we wait!
Other Dodger News
Joe Kelly and Andrew Heaney have retired, or as Joe Kelly said: “Retiring is like, something that my grandmother did….I’m sorry all you people out there watching this that work a real job. You guys deserve to retire, athletes don’t,” Kelly said. “We just stop [expletive] playing, okay? Let’s cancel the word ’retirement.’ It’s used for people who [expletive] served in the military, used for people who worked until 65…When athletes are done playing, just say ’congratulations, they’re no longer playing.’ ”
MLB.com names Mike Sirota as the Dodgers Breakout Player in 2025:
Dodgers: Mike Sirota, OF (No. 5/MLB No. 64)
A likely first-rounder before slumping during his junior season at Northeastern in 2024, Sirota dropped to the Reds in the third round, then went to the Dodgers in the Gavin Lux trade last January before even making his pro debut. The grand-nephew of Hall of Famer Whitey Ford batted .333/.452/.616 with 13 homers in 59 games between two Class A stops and looked like a potential 20/20 center fielder before injuring his right knee on a slide in July.
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Discussion (46)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Michael Jordon was asked if his old Bulls team could beat the LeBron Lakers. He said, “Of course.” He was asked by how many points and he said, “2 or 3.” He was asked, “Why only 2 or 3 points?” He said, “Well, most of us are close to 60 now!?
Never realized it but Sandy, LeBron and Tiger Woods were all born on December 30th. Tiger is 50, LBJ 41.
HAPPY 90th BIRTHDAY TO SANFORD KOUFAX!
He’ll have a 1.75 ERA and save 37 games!
Angels signed Kirby Yates to a 1-year 5-million-dollar contract.
Dodger Christmas for me too: LA tie, umbrella, mug, tee shirt, and flip flops! to add to my sweat shirt and ball cap collection.
Made it home to Colorado safely. Read about the trade, no big deal. Imai and Okamoto down to the last days. Amed Rosario signing by the Yankees is final.
A potential Bichette signing would provide continuity beyond Mookie’s productive years. In a couple of years Mookie will be in the twilight of his career, Freeman and Teo will become free agents. Muncy will likely be long gone. Bichette’s value is his bat. Donovan is a nice player but does little to address the longterm stability of the offense. In a couple of years our lineup will depend on who we build around Ohtani, Smith and Pages? I believe we’re going to need a player like Bichette in a couple of years more than we do now.
I am excited to see River Ryan back. That kid was filthy prior to his injury.
I agree with Brian and Jorge. Kim hasn’t been been given a legitimate shot yet, still hit 281 last year with great speed and played excellent defense and yet some folks in this site are dying to trade him. Edmon is going to be healthy (hopefully) and play better defense and offense than Kike ever will next year. My worries are if Max’s D digresses, he gets injured or stops hitting dingers. But I still think waiting for the new crops to show up in in ST and then, if nothing materializes, hit the trade deadline. We will see what happens in a few months.
Sheehan’s name is mentioned in rumors. Not saying I want to trade him, just curious. Friedman isn’t dumb. But acquiring what you need sometimes requires giving someone you don’t necessarily want to part with. Personally I would like to a full time second baseman, with Edman and Kim utility. Just my opinion.
Lots of it!!!!!!
Sheehan should NOT be included in any trade proposal. He is controllable for the next 4 years.AF is not that stupid.
All good thoughts. You’re having a solid offseason, Mark
The longer the market plays. the better for us. We want guys on our terms.
Honestly, there is no reason to substantially weaken the system just because a team is dangling a decent fit. We got the green stuff.
In hindsight maybe the Dodgers should have traded for Brandon Lowe from the Rays. Powerful second baseman. Pittsburgh did well in that trade. Looking at some projections for the second base position with Kim, Edman, & Rojas, the dodgers rank 23rd in all of baseball. Of course that could change if one or all three have banner years, but who knows. Mark, would you trade Sheehan, Freeland, and another prospect for Donovan? Seems to me that should get it done.
Here’s what BA says about this 18-year old: Adriano Marrero, RHP, Marlins Marrero was one of several prominent pitchers the Marlins signed in their 2025 class, with Marrero getting a $350,000 bonus. The Cuban righthander pitched well in his first season with a 3.82 ERA, 35 strikeouts and 12 walks in 33 innings. Marrero is listed at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds and has a fastball that inched up to touch 94 mph with more likely in the tank. His lively stuff breaks wide to both sides of the plate, with lots of armside run on his two-seamer and lively fade on his changeup going the same way. His sweeper spins above 3,000 rpm and breaks 23 inches the other way.
Well, there is no question that Bichette is better than Donovan. Ray Charles can see that. But Bichette is likely going to get an 8-year deal. The Dodgers won’t do that. They won’t do it with Bichette. They won’t do it with Tucker, and they won’t do a long-term deal with Bellinger. Mookie can play another year or two at SS. Then what? He has to go to 2B. Bichette does not have the range or arm for SS and lacks the arm for 3B, so that creates a problem. Donovan is perfect for two years, and let him platoon with MiggyRo next year. The only question is who the Cardinals want. The Dodgers are willing to give Bichette a short-term deal, but why would they do that if Toronto gives him an 8-Year/$200 M deal? We shall see!
I just read the Mariners are in hot pursuit of Donavan and willing to give up a top pitching prospect. Do the Dodgers REALLY need Donavan? Bichette is the better option. There are NOT many right handed hitting bats available in baseball that can hit for power and average.
MLB rumors: Cody Bellinger, Scott Boras holding out for 7-year deal, per Jon Heyman. Good luck Cody. The Dodgers aren’t interested in a long term deal. They have many outfield prospects waiting a chance in one to two years.
So Cardinals management says thanks but no thanks to Mark’s offer of Freeland, Kim, Tibbs and Davalan for Donovan. And why would they? Two guys who played have really proven themselves major leaguers or among the Dodgers top ten prospect.
What if the Cards insist on …
Rushing?
Or DePaula, Hope, Sirota or Quintero?
Or Sheehan, River Ryan or Stone?
The Dodgers do elite. Bichette is an elite hitter when healthy.
Donovan is a good target…. but if the Dodgers decide to add another position player, I’d prefer an outfielder with an impact bat.
Second base is not a problem with Edman, Kim and Rojas as good options. And maybe Kike in time.
My gut says the Dodgers won’t be trading Kim–at least not before he gets a legitimate shot to show what he can do.
As a rookie, with limited opportunity, he batted .280 with a .699 OPS–basically league average. Roberts sat him against lefties even though he showed reverse splits. We know Kim’s a quality defender, with dangerous speed. Why not give him the kind of opportunity that Vargas got a few years back? If he flops, the Dodgers could easily justify trading him.
Speaking of splits, Donovan’s ’25 numbers argue for a platoon. His OPS against lefties was only .614, about 240 points lower than his performance against righties.
The Dodgers are trading outfielder Esteury Ruiz to the Marlins for minor league pitcher Adriano Marrero, reports Francys Romero. Miami will need to open a spot on the 40-man roster once the deal is official. This drops L.A.’s roster count to 39.