Normally signing a utilityman to a $4 Million Dollar Deal is not newsworthy… unless you trade Manual Margot, who was making $10 Million along with Rayne Doncon for another prospect, namely Noah Miller, who is a true shortstop. Baseball America rated him as Minnesota’s #24 Prospect. If you are making a list of the best gloves in the minors, you won’t go very long before you’re mentioning Noah Miller’s name. Here’s what BA says about him:
Track Record: The younger brother of Brewers infielder Owen Miller, Noah has been one of the smoothest, slickest-fielding shortstops in pretty much every league he’s played in. That was the case again in 2023 as Miller helped lead Cedar Rapids to the Midwest League title with his range and reliability at shortstop. His bat has yet to catch up to his glove.
— Baseball America
Scouting Report: Miller is a joy to watch play defense. He has above-average range, smooth and flowing actions, soft hands and an innate understanding of where everyone is and where they are going when the ball is put in play. His plus arm allows him to make the play deep in the hole that many shortstops know better than to even attempt. His body control also allows him to quickly get rid of the ball if he leaves his feet. If the Twins needed a shortstop to step in and play solid defense in an emergency role, Miller could handle the job capably. He’s also an excellent baserunner despite having only average speed. At the plate, Miller doesn’t make pitchers sweat. He can hit a fastball, but even then, he’s likely to just line a single. He has a lot of work to do at recognizing and making better contact against breaking balls and changeups and he has very little power.
The Future: Miller’s defense is hard to criticize, but if he doesn’t learn to make a little more offensive impact, it’s going to be hard to get to the big leagues. Even defensive wizards like nick Ahmed and Jose Iglesias showed some offensive acumen in the minors.
Scouting Grades Hit: 40 | Power: 30 | Run: 50 | Field: 65 | Arm: 60
All the clamor is about the Dodgers re-signing Kike Hernandez (and I really like that move – as in really, really like it), but hold your horses… Noah Miller is exceptional – he could play an excellent SS at the MLB level right about now. His glove plays BIG TIME, but his bat is his issue. Admittedly, Miller has been a scrawny kid who has had to work to gain strength. His bat is quick, but he has no power (to speak of). I think the power will come and the Dodgers are just the team to unleash it. I think this could be an exceptional trade. He is a “field first Wizard at SS.” The hit tool will come. I am really high on this kid.
When the Dodgers got Trey Sweeney from the Yankees, I was like, “OK, whatever.” Sweeney currently may have a better offensive upside, but he is “fringe average” at SS. Translation: He is organizational depth. Miller is the Real Thing! I am glad Kike is back! I love me some Kike Hernandez, but he should never bat against a RHP. No one flinches when I say that, but Dodger fans want to stone me when I say that James Outman should never bat against a LHP. I also love James Outman. Oh, and I think that Kike and James will share time in CF… just don’t call it a platoon. It makes some people crazy!
Rayne Doncon’s stock was much higher a year or two ago. It has slipped, but he has the skills to be a very good 3B or maybe a 2B…. or not! SS is a premium position and Miller gives the Dodgers a guy who can possibly grow into the future SS. Really. The Twins were very heavy in LH outfielders and Margot was just what the Doctor ordered. The Dodgers are a better team without Margot and with Kike.
Kike can play a very good centerfield against LH Pitching and play SS in a pinch. Just don’t put him anywhere EVERY DAY. I keep hearing that in Boston Kike was not good at SS, but that was then and he was a regular – this is now and he is not a regular. Put Kike at SS for 20+ games a year and he will astound you. Just don’t play him every day at SS.
The same is true with Chris Taylor. He can play RF, 3B and SS and play them very well. Again, he is a Stuntman… not a regular. CT3 will see time in RF as Jason Heyward’s platoon partner, and at SS and 3B. So, here is the deal: If Gavin Lux can play just 110 games at SS, then Kike and CT3 can cover the rest. Maybe Lux can play more, but here is my point: Miguel Rojas, even though he is a defensive wizard at SS is no longer needed. Do the math!
The Dodgers do not need a defensive specialist. Rojas is another trade candidate. Look at the roster:
- Smith
- Freeman
- Betts
- Lux
- Muncy
- Hernandez, T.
- Outman
- Heyward
- Ohtani
- Taylor
- Hernandez, K.
- Barnes
There is one spot left. Maybe Rojas will be on the team at the start of the season, but I would not expect him to be there by July… unless Lux is a bust. I love Gavin Lux, but am not convinced he is a SS. I have an open mind. I have been excited about Miguel Vargas’ hit tool for several years. I think he would be a useful player in LF. Maybe he starts the season in AAA. He started Spring Training 2-2 and is now 2-9. What a bum! Send him back to AA. He’s a dog. Not so fast. It’s freaking Spring Training and it’s early.
Vargas is 0-7 in his last at-bats. What does that mean? Not a damn thing! Progress is not linear, but talent is not common. Four games into Spring Training means nothing. Have you ever watched Spring Training Baseball before? Ha!
I am Now Homeless
We sold our house in six days (“Damn, I knew we should have asked $50K more“) . The closing was last Friday. We do not get into our new home until April. I guess we will be living under a bridge until April. I hope it has internet. I am excited about the new compound.
It’s Miller Time
This guy is a freaking Defensive Wizard!
Discussion (15)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Not saying this is relevant to Mark restarting this blog, but before this one, there were 30 posts and 11 were by Mark.
Dodgers score four in the 9th inning to take the lead, 9-4. Okey and Ohtani homered today.
Glad to see you back, MT!! Jeff’s site is very good as well but as others have said, LADT has a different vibe. All good and glad to see Eric and Bear back in the fold. Kike’s return is epic and glad to see AF is adding SS depth with the recent trades. Lux’s agility looks a little iffy so far but hopefully he gets to 100% soon enough. That was an ugly injury! Shohei just went oppo….Oh my!!
VIVA AZUL!!!
One of the reasons why Ohtani is hitting 2nd and not 3rd is that he is much faster than Freddie.
It may be a while until we see Gavin Lux on back-to-back days… so his progress is going to be hard to quantify.
Jose Ramos has been a pleasant surprise… so far.
I also think that the Betts guy will make the team.
UPDATE ABOVE – Noah Miller’s Defense.
3:05 PM ET
White Sox (1-3)
Dodgers (4-0-1)
SP Garrett Crochet L
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Bobby Miller R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
DH S. Ohtani L
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
LF T. Hernandez R
RF J. Heyward L
SS Miguel Rojas R
CF Jose Ramos R
72° Wind 7 mph Out
Ohtani batting second
BTW, Gavin Lux did nothing to dispel that he could play SS, but he really wasn’t tested. This will be interesting to watch play out. The Dodgers have been working with him extensively on his footwork, positioning and throwing. Hopefully, it pays off as if he can play SS at a high level, it solves all kinds of problems.
Hope you have a snow blower for that driveway.
Potential is one thing, living up to that potential is entirely another. How many great bat to ball minor leaguers have flamed out against major league pitching? For his sake, I hope Vargas becomes a successful major league player. I just do not believe he is a fit on this team right now. They have enough right-handed bats. Let him go to AAA, spend a full season starting in left field with no breaks, and see where he is next spring. He is young enough where it is not going to greatly impact his career. If there is an injury to an outfielder, then he will be the first man up. If an infielder gets hurt, do not be surprised if the guy called up is Chris Owings. He is versatile, and a very good fielder.
You are right, it is way too early to judge Vargas’s bat, but the Dodgers value defense, and all of the outfielders ahead of Miguel are pretty damn good defensively. I see two really weak bats on this team, one is Barnes. He has looked worse than he did last year. Bat is slow, and he stands there like a statue looking at pitches. Rojas has always been so so with the stick. Right now, he seems like a late inning defensive piece. But Miggy’s biggest contribution is his clubhouse presence, which all of his teammate’s love. Now yes, he might get traded, and he might not, but he definitely fits on this team more than Margot did. I never understood why he was taken in trade anyway. I do not think offense is going to be a problem for this team. As for Kike, I still think he is a redundant piece. He and Taylor are basically the same guy. And the team is righty heavy now. Barnes, Smith, Betts, Hernandez, Hernandez, Taylor, Rojas. Outman, Heyward, Muncy, Ohtani, Freeman, Lux.
Hi Mark, what a surprise you opened up LADT again. Good so see you on the beam again. Certainly one of the best Dodger blogs on the net.
Which one of the houses is your new one ? I would hope the one with the pool.
Good trade for the Dodgers and good to see Kike back.
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I kept checking your site, because I knew you couldn’t stand staying away for very long. Lol .
Nothing has changed in the outfield except names.
Against RHP it’s Teo Hernandez, Outman, Heyward.
Against LHP it’s Teo Hernandez, Outman and instead of Margot it will be either Taylor or Hernandez depending on who is hitting better or both getting practically the same playing time.
I agree Rojas is not needed, no matter if Lux can play SS or not. But it’s not going to be Vargas who takes the place of Rojas. At best, Vargas will be Heyward’s platoon partner and I don’t think that’s going to happen unless he puts up moster numbers in AAA and I mean monster numbers, as in, out of this universe numbers.
I think this trade is a wash, if not a loss, considering Margot has been a lot better against LHP the last 5 years on average. But Kike is more versatile. Career wise Margot has a .024 better BA and Hernandez has a .041 better OPS.
Noah Miller is another Miguel Rojas. Same kind of player different name.
Please cite paraphrases of BA articles. Thank you.