Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
For a Dodger fan, the Baseball Winter Meetings have been dull. The Dodgers signed Michael Conforto and re-signed Blake Treinen on Sunday night. Since then, they have done nothing.
Teoscar Hernández has many options after Juan Soto signed a mind-boggling contract with the New York Mets. Every team who wanted Soto is in Hernández. Of course, the Dodgers want Teoscar Hernández back, but they won’t enter a bidding war for a 32-year-old defensively challenged corner outfielder. Hernández reportedly still has interest in returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Two pieces of headline news for the Dodgers during the meetings are Shohei Ohtani probably won’t be ready to pitch in Japan and Mookie Betts will be the Dodger shortstop in the 2025 season.
After the World Series, Ohtani underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-pitching shoulder. He can’t continue his throwing program after surgery. When Ohtani can resume throwing, the Dodgers don’t want to revamp Ohtani quickly. After his second elbow surgery, Ohtani will have an innings limit, and the Dodgers don’t want to give Ohtani a break during the season. In Japan for Opening Day, Ohtani should be ready to hit.
The Dodgers didn’t go after Willy Adames, who signed a long-term lucrative contract with the San Francisco Giants. Who will play shortstop?
Mookie Betts. During this offseason, Betts has been preparing to play shortstop for the Dodgers in the 2025 season. In spring training of 2024, the Dodgers moved Betts to shortstop after Gavin Lux failed at shortstop. He did well, except with his throws, but Betts has a remarkably strong and accurate throwing arm. He found difficulty adjusting to the different arm angles required at shortstop. When Betts returned to the lineup after breaking his hand, he was mainly a right fielder.
At 32, Betts is attempting an unheard transition from right field to shortstop. Most shortstops at Betts’ age want to move somewhere else on the diamond. Betts has won six Gold Gloves in right field, but his defensive statistics have declined in right field. Betts wants to move into the infield.
Lux is a talented second baseman with good left-handed offense and can’t be a free agent until after the 2026 season. Betts likes challenges. At shortstop, Betts produced offensively well. Unless Ohtani has another historic season, Betts should win a National League MVP as a shortstop.
Moving Betts, who wants to play shortstop, enables the Dodgers to have Tommy Edman play center field, another need. Edman can play shortstop and second base where he won a Gold Glove. Miguel Rojas will be a backup for Betts at shortstop.
Dodger fans must remember the Dodgers on December 11th won’t be the same team on Opening Day. Right now, the Dodgers don’t look like a World Series-caliber team, but by March, they will.
