The player who I think will replace Trea Turner will be 23 in August. That is Miguel Vargas. Trea Turner was 23 years old in his first full season. Just like Miguel Rojas, Trea was 22 when he had a “cup of coffee” with the Nats (44 PA) and hit .225. The next season he hit .342! Even though he is not as fast as Trea (he’s faster than you think) and plays a different position, Miguel Vargas is the player most likely to replace Trea Turner’s bat in the Dodgers’ lineup. In fact, I think he might replace it… and then some.
I am sure Miguel will start out hitting closer to the bottom of the order rather than the top at the beginning of the season, but he will likely settle into the #2 slot by midseason. Trea Turner hit 21 HR last season and yet struck out 131 times. I personally remember a lot of runners he failed to move by whiffing. I think Miguel Vargas will be close to Trea Turner in Batting Average and Home Runs, he will be a “doubles machine,” as we saw yesterday when he swung the bat for the first time this year, but he will not strike out as much as Trea. He will be a suitable replacement for TT.
I also think that JDM will be a suitable replacement for JT, and it appears that Max Muncy is healthy and returning to his “normal” with what will be with a higher BA due to the absence of the shift. Hopefully, JDM can also “coax” the superstar out of Mookie. The 35 HRs Mookie hit were nice, but I expect more than a .269 BA from him. I he can hit closer to .300 (as superstars are known to do) it will help the team immensely. Freddie Freeman struck out 2 fewer times than Mookie but had 45 more hits.
The top pf the Dodgers’ lineup should be potent:
- Betts RF
- Freeman 1B
- JDM DH
- Muncy 3B
- Smith C
- Vargas 2B
- Peralta/Taylor LF
- Outman/Heyward/Thompson CF
- Rojas SS
I am not worried about LF, as Peralta is back working with RVS (with whom he had his best season), and I think CT3 will rebound. CF is what worries me the most. There does not seem to be a good platoon there. I read comments yesterday about getting rid of Heyward. That would be really dumb after all this work, and of course, it won’t happen, although it could happen if he doesn’t play well. He has made the team, and he deserves that. He is getting a chance. I hope Outman can continue his play, but I have no opinion. I am watching the same as everyone and rooting for the young man.
Andy Pages is 25 pounds lighter and has played some CF, but I don’t think that is his position. He belongs in RF due to his cannon of an arm or LF. He will likely start at OKC or Tulsa but could see the show this year. I am operating under the premise that Outman or Heyward will handle CF this year. I am not high on Thompson (even if it is a feel-good story), but it’s possible that CT3 plays CF with Heyward or Outman and Pages platoons with Peralta. While not a great CF, CT3 can play the position.
Of course, the Wrath of Kahn rained down when I suggested the Gavin Lux could play CF next year. “He’s a horrible Centerfielder!” Of course, he was, because he never played there. They stuck him in the outfield mid-season without any preparation. It’s not like he lacks CF Genes. He just lacks experience. Give him a full Spring Training there, and he might do just fine. Even when he plays 2B, his throws are seldom online, and I am not alone in thinking he cannot play SS at the MLB level. Many other teams think that. One GM allegedly said, “I cannot believe Friedman thinks he can play there (SS).”
… and before someone says something dumb like, “He just has knee surgery and shouldn’t play the outfield” understand that cutting and stopping and starting and pivoting is what is harder on a repaired knee. Running in the outfield is less stressful. I don’t know how well Gavin can play CF… but neither do you! He is a good athlete, so there is a very good chance he can play there; his problems are all of the throwing variety in the infield. It’s something to consider… but it is not etched in stone. However, the complicating factor is that Gavin’s knee surgery was very serious and there was more damage than the AFL. He may not play much next Spring.
What’s Next?
- We are allegedly going to see some of Dalton Rushing.
- With all of the Catchers the Dodgers have, it is possible (to me) that Diego Cartaya changes positions. He is very athletic and could handle 3B, 1B, or LF! NO inside information, just an idea.
- Mike Busch is ready but will likely start the season at OKC
- Andy Pages will likely play a role with the Dodgers this year.
- Miguel Rojas is almost giddy about getting hitting instruction from RVS and Company… He has had little of that with the Marlins. He could hit in the .285+ range this year and that would be huge for this team.
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It would be great if Vargas can replace Trea’s offensive production. If he equals Trea’s numbers from 2022, he’d be ROY.
Still, it will be a collective effort. It’s amazing the Dodger offense was so potent last season despite horrible production from Belli, Taylor and others. But the idea of “replacing” Trea reminds me a bit of the Moneyball scene in which the old-school scouts are trying to figure out how to replace Jeremy Giambi.
To replace Trea, it will be Vargas… plus Max… plus Taylor and Peralta and everyone else–while Rojas provides better defense.
Trea’s performance is replaceable. We’d have a bigger problem if we had lost Mookie, Freddie or Will.
We’re gonna need all the good pitching we can get before year is over I sure don’t want to see Jackson or Grove get traded they both have looked pretty sharp. I don’t get to see many minor league games so seeing Cartaya’s first couple times out was wondering what all the hype was about then yesterday seen his bat speed in action and all I could think was Wow. I sure love spring training and seeing what’s in the pipeline
Vivas has been impressing me. Kid got a slick glove, plays all over with some speed and real intense in the box. No wonder he’s on the forty man. Seems to have high baseball IQ to. And what is the deal with Bobby Miller haven’t heard a thing
Batting leaders in spring so far. HR’s Freeman 3 Heyward 2 Betts 2. They have 10 total this spring. RBI’s Freeman 8 Feduccia 7, Outman 5. Vivas 4. BA Feduccia .444 Hernandez .375. Freeman .353 Outman .389. Avans, Leonard, Muncy, Zimmer, Pages, Smith, Vivas and Ward, all above .300. Vargas, Freeman, Feduccia, Muncy, Rojas, and Mann, all have 2 doubles. Outman, Avens and Hernandez have the triples. The team has stolen 8 bases. They have given up 16 bags. They have only given up 4 homers in 12 games.
I’d rather see players the Dodgers have drafted and developed play in MLB than trade them for other team’s players. What I don’t like is the Dodgers getting past their prime platoon players (Peralta, Heyward), and journeymen (Thompson) and below average hitters (Rojas) through free agency or trades.
But as it is right now I’d rather the Dodgers stick with what they have right now and find out what they have. And if Rojas, Peralta, Heyward, Thompson suck then there is DeLuca, Pages, Busch, Mann. But Doc won’t go for that he’ll stick with the older guys no matter what and force AF to make a trade or trades at the deadline.
The right formula is draft and develop players to eventually make it to MLB and plug in the holes with GOOD free agent players. Same thing for the pitching too.
Okay so if we need outfielders that are better how do we get them you will have to trade players to get better ones. Do you use prospects or do you shop Muncy or Taylor or Smith for better quality players. So if you look at an organization that has talent if the Dodgers are rebuilding. I would trade with Toronto or the Yankees. And here is why. Some say the dodgers could get Donaldson Hicks and a shortstop Knser but they have others players too.. So look at that trade. To get them wouldn’t the dodgers have to give up Muncy a Taylor and I would say Busch. And does that make the dodgers better by adding Hicks in LF Donaldson at third base and kinder at shortstop. I’m not sure but the dodgers do get new players if thats what we all want younger guys. Now Toronto the dodgers could get Chapman. Springer, and the Allstar catcher. For Muncy smith Taylor Busch and Pepiot. Now that I would do. Springer could play centerfield Outman play left field Betts in right field third base Chapman Rojas shortstop Vargas second base freeman at first base and the new catcher you get Kirk. There that would improve the dodgers two teams that possible trades would help both teams. And well you lose guys but if you want better bats there you go.
Tell us you knew the ‘mask rule.’
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRWEMQvK/
Well they pulled this one out on a walk off walk. Great eye.
0-162 that’s means a over worked bullpen.
Rookie hitting as predictable as Crypto.
If Outman can hit LHP, that somewhat solves the platooning problem in the outfield. I’m not high on either Peralta and Hayward. I just don’t like all the question marks. DH, 2B, SS, LF, CF. That’s 5 out of 9 positions that are hitting question marks. What is the chance all those question marks go away or even most of them?
Clayton is getting beaten like a rented mule!
https://www.wsj.com/articles/svb-financial-pulls-capital-raise-explores-alternatives-including-possible-sale-sources-say-11de7522
Did everyone see this?
That’s the bank that does our payroll.
Nobody got paid today. So we issued paper checks.
Pretty ugly!
The Athletic‘s Fabian Ardaya reported this update on the 28-year-old following a media scrum with Dave Roberts
“Almonte hasn’t appeared in a Cactus League game but faced hitters Wednesday for the second time and still is on track to be ready for Opening Day despite his slower progress,” wrote Ardaya.
“In 2022, Almonte started the season in the minor leagues but was quickly called up to help strengthen LA’s bullpen. He thrived there when healthy and recorded a 1.02 ERA with a 0.79 WHIP in about 33 games for the team.
Almonte continued to shine when the pressure was on in the postseason. A struggling Dodgers team looking for life in last season’s NLDS inserted Almonte back into their bullpen and he performed above all expectations. The RHP struck out all five of the hitters that stepped up to the plate against him in his first three games of that series. Unfortunately, LA went on to lose that series to the San Diego Padres but Almonte was able to showcase to the front office what he brings to the table”
3:05 PM ET vs Angels
Clayton Kershaw L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
SS Miguel Rojas R
LF Chris Taylor R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
2B M. Vargas R
CF James Outman L
RF Andy Pages R
1B Devin Mann R
C H. Feduccia L
Partly-cloudy-day
0% Rain
73° Wind 4 mph Out
It totally amazes me how some people can judge how a player is going to do after less than 30 at bats in spring training. Just weird. Roberts said yesterday that Smith is going to be his # 3-hole hitter. That means, Betts, Freeman, Smith, Muncy, JD, and whoever 6-9. Rojas is making great contact this spring and showing some pop. Monday was commenting yesterday about Martinez and noted that JD’s timing is just not there yet. He is getting close. 20 or so more at bats and we should see a lot of improvement. Same with Muncy. Martinez is the only player with more than 20 at bats at 21. Muncy has 17 and he is hitting .353. Heyward has only 18 at bats. He hasn’t looked good the last couple of games, but it sure has not affected his defense. Sorry Cassidy, this early in camp, playing a position full time for the first time in his career, and a new one at that, I do not expect Max to be in midseason form. You guys are way too critical after too short a time.
I have been disappointed with Muncy’s play at 3rd. In last Wednesday’s game he made 3 misplays but only 1 was called an error (the others could have been). Then he made a wild throw to first that was erased by the runner trying to go to second but being thrown out. There have been other sloppy plays as well, he just hasn’t been steady.
Other than Mookie outfield quality all around is a huge issue. I think that’s why there’s so much optimism in Outman at least he has a chance of being really good where as we all seen what Thompson, Heyward, Zimmer and Duggar have done in recent years which isn’t good at all. So far seems Taylor is the same strikeout machine he was last year but plays fairly good D in six different spots. Peralta is adequate against righties and that’s it. How can I not be concerned. Just hope pitching is outstanding and some moves are made
OF quality depth is a problem. They might keep Heyward just so they’re not caught with their pants down if Outman can’t handle CF or there’s an injury.
After Peralta, Taylor, Outman, Heyward, there are NRIs Zimmer and Duggar, prospects Pages & DeLuca, and little else [Busch in LF?].
And God forbid Betts gets injured.