Who is on Your Christmas Wish List for the Dodgers?

It is the holiday gift giving season. Your favorite team has some holes to fill. Just who should they target to fill those holes? Ask 25 fans, you will usually get 25 different answers. I am pretty sure some of the suggestions I would make would get some pushback from other fans.

I think they need a pure center fielder. To me, Pages is a stop gap measure and merely adequate. He made a critical catch to save a game in the World Series. But he also does not run routes very well. He still has a penchant for trying to throw out runners he has no shot at getting.

His bat all but disappeared in the World Series. He was only in CF as a defensive replacement because Edman’s ankle was still an issue. Just who might that CF be? Well, there have been several suggestions made by posters. Some are not realistic; others might have a solid chance.

1. Luis Robert Jr.: I saw a list on ESPN of the likely landing place of players most likely to be traded. Robert had an 60% chance according to their analysts of being traded. The Dodgers were not listed as a possible destination.
2. Byron Buxton: Buxton has a 30% chance of being moved. My main concern with Buxton is the same as I have with Robert Jr. These guys just cannot stay healthy and on the field. The Dodgers were not mentioned as a possible destination for Buxton either.
3. Cody Bellinger: Bellinger is the more versatile of these players. Belli can play any outfield position plus first base and he is a solid defender at all of them. Bellinger has become more of a contact hitter since he left the Dodgers and has not struck out more than 90 times in the last 3 years. He is going to turn 31 during the season, so a 3–5-year deal is not out of line.
4. Harrison Bader: Bader to me is more of a stop gap measure until the Dodgers prospects are ready for prime time. He is an excellent defender who did a very good job last year. Not a lot of power, but a solid contact hitter.

My list would also include a solid high leverage reliever. Devin Williams is off the board since he signed with the Mets.

1. Robert Suarez: Suarez has been the Padres closer for the last two seasons and has recorded 76 saves in those two seasons. His ERA is 2.87 for the two seasons. I really like the fact that Suarez does not give up many homers. He gave up 13 in 134.2 innings. Suarez is 37 so I don’t see more than a 2-year deal.
2. Pete Fairbanks: Fairbanks has been the Rays closer for 3 years. He has averaged 25 saves a year and his ERA has been right at or under 3. He also does not give up a lot of long balls. He is 31 and I could see a 2- or 3-year deal being viable.
3. Kyle Finnegan: Finnegan split last season between the Nationals and the Tigers. He had 20 saves at the time of the trade. He was 3-0 with 4 saves and a sparkling 1.50 ERA with Detroit. He pitched well in 5 of his 6 appearances in the post season. He is another pitcher who does not give up a lot of homers.
4. Kenley Jansen: Jansen is more of a sentimental pick than anything else. Many fans would like to see him reach 500 saves in a Dodger uniform. Jansen had his best season since leaving the Dodgers after the 21 season. He needs 24 saves to reach 500. I seriously do not think he would get that many chances in LA.

The Dodgers are loaded with players who can play multiple positions, and they just resigned Miguel Rojas for another year. But they still are connected to guys like Brendan Donovan. Donovan can play 2nd, 3rd and the outfield. He is a gritty contact style hitter with some power.

I question the need for another player of this type. I am not the GM though and I still see that the team has an interest in Donovan. So do several other teams according to the reports. If LA does not sign or trade for a CF, I believe they need a solid replacement for Conforto. Players like Lars Nootbaar have been mentioned. Unless they move Teo in a trade of some kind, I just cannot see that happening.

Many have also suggested that they should sign Bo Bichette with the intent of moving him to third once Max Muncy has played out his string in LA. Bichette would play second and then move to third in 27. I think that all depends on how much the owners are willing to spend on free agents this winter It is going to be a very interesting couple of weeks.