So far, the Winter Meetings have been only slightly eventful. In a surprise move, the Dodgers signed the best closer on the market, saying, “loss of a draft pick and International Bonus Money be damned – we are getting another closer.” I would assume that signing Edwin Diaz, who is an elite closer, signals the end of Evan Phillips’ time with LA. Of course, closers are notoriously unpredictable, so that Tanner Scott may have 50 saves and a 1.70 ERA this year, and Diaz may blow up! You never know about relievers!

Straight Talk About Andy Pages

The Dodgers don’t have to do anything. They may be content with Pages in CF, as last season Andy recorded a +11 OAA, which ranked him #1 among all outfielders in MLB. As a center fielder (his listed position) that likely puts him among the top handful of CFs league-wide in terms of range/playmaking — he’s well above average as a defender! Andy is in the upper tier – likely number 5 to number 8 in all of MLB as a Centerfielder. He may not have led the league like some elite-glove, high-opportunity CFs, but +11 OAA and a “top 10 outfielder” mark — combined with arm value and highlight-reel plays — means he’s a legit defensive weapon, not just a “bat first, glove second” guy.

Statcast ranks him 1 or 2 in CF, and Pete Crow-Armstrong #3. The only reason to hedge is that Statcast updates positional splits differently from aggregate OF totals — but no other CF number reported for 2025 comes close to +11. In 2025, Andy Pages wasn’t just a good defender or an above-average Centerfielder; He was a premier defensive centerfielder in MLB, with OAA numbers that push into the elite tier usually reserved for Kevin Kiermaier-type seasons in their prime.

And if you add his:

• elite jump metrics
• strong arm value
• postseason highlight plays (including that absurd WS Game 7 catch)

…his overall defensive profile is top-tier among 2025 MLB centerfielders. I asked AI to rank the centerfielders, and this was their ranking:

2025 Top 15 Centerfielders by OAA (Realistic Composite Ranking)

Tier 1: Elite Glove Wizards (CF Gold Standard)

These CFs were the apex predators of 2025 fly balls.

Rank	Player	2025 OAA	Empty
1. Andy Pages (LAD)	+11	Among top outfielders in MLB; no CF publicly reported above this.
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC)	+7	Best traditional CF “range-only” OAA among official CF splits.
3. Garrett Mitchell (MIL)	+6	Explosion of range; healthy season boosted attempts.
4. Victor Scott II (STL)	+5	One of MLB’s fastest players; strong jumps.

Tier 2: Excellent, Well-Rounded CF Defenders

These guys mix instincts, range, and arm value.

Rank	Player	2025 OAA	Notes
5. Julio Rodríguez (SEA)	+4	Elite arm + above-average OAA = star defensive package.
6. Byron Buxton (MIN)	+4	When healthy, still a GPS-locked predator of deep contact.
7. Jake Meyers (HOU)	+3 to +9 (varies by source)	Some sources list him at +9 OAA; strong reputation.
8. Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)	+2 to +4	Excellent arm, strong positioning, fewer opportunities than speedsters.

Tier 3: Above-Average CFs

Consistent defenders who rarely hurt you.

Rank	Player	Est. OAA	Notes
9. Brenton Doyle (COL)	+1 to +3	Huge arm; home-park outfield complexities.
10. Kevin Kiermaier (TOR)	+1 to +3	Still superb instincts even as range declines.
11. Harrison Bader (NYM)	0 to +3	Great reads; fewer plays made far from optimal path.

Tier 4: Solid / Slightly Above Average

These players grade out positively in most systems.

Rank	Player	Est. OAA
12. Michael Harris II (ATL)	0 to +2
13. Trent Grisham (NYY)	~0 to +2
14. Sal Frelick (MIL)	~0 to +1
15. Tyler O’Neill (BOS)	~0 to +1

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Summary Ranking: Where Does Andy Pages Sit?

Andy Pages’ +11 OAA puts him #1 among all centerfielders in MLB in 2025 and top 7–10 among all outfielders overall. He is in the elite tier, beating even PCA-type specialists in raw production.

Now, I have to add a caveat: no matter how you analyze defensive metrics, they are somewhat subjective. Andy Pages may not be the Number One CF’er in baseball… but he is pretty damn good, and I have no clue why morons want Buxton or Bader as the Centerfielder. Andy Pages will also likely improve offensively as he has in his first two years. Of course, Dodger fans have short memories – they forget the game-saving catch in the World Series and only remember his offensive struggles in the playoffs. Remember this:

I think that the Dodgers may stand down and go with an outfield of Rushing in LF, Pages in CF, and Teoscar in RF with Alex Call as his “caddy.” That outfield could deliver 100 Home Runs! Rushing and Teoscar are not Gold Glovers, but they might really rake!

Rocco Baldelli

Andrew Friedman knows Rocco very well. Baldelli grew up in Rhode Island with a blend of academic horsepower and athletic grace. He was a high-end student who nearly pursued physics, but the baseball gods tugged harder. Drafted 6th overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000, he vaulted through the minors like someone pressed fast-forward.

By 2003, he was a rookie centerfielder who looked carved from a scouting director’s daydream. Long-limbed, silky routes, gap-to-gap thunder, top-tier arm, elite speed. He finished 3rd in ROY voting, paired with Carl Crawford as Tampa Bay’s kinetic engine. A strange cocktail of muscle fatigue, mitochondrial disorder, and recurring soft-tissue injuries throttled his body. He missed the entire 2005 season, made multiple comebacks, and briefly re-ascended as a valuable role player during the Rays’ run to the 2008 World Series. But the condition sapped recovery and endurance. By 2011, at just 29, he retired.

In 2019, he was the AL Manager of the Year with 101 wins. He is noted for his ability to develop young hitters. He is gentle but firm and a data-forward person. He is a talent developer, a highly empathetic person with an outstanding wit. He will be a massive asset to the team.