There will be a fairly significant change overall in the 2024 roster of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Indeed, as confirmed by manager Dave Roberts, the finalist for the MVP title in 2023, Mookie Betts, will change position for the next campaign.
Betts will move from outfielder to full-time second baseman.
A change in the interest of the club
The Dodgers bench man justified his decision by stipulating that his star player could be even more useful to his team by playing in the infield. Still according to Roberts, number 50 will have a greater impact and influence in the match by playing at second cushion rather than in the field.
This change in defensive position does not come out of nowhere. The seven-time Gold Glove starter, six as an outfielder, has played 86 games in the infield in 2023, all split between second base and shortstop. In 583 innings of work at those two positions, he committed five errors.
It is worth remembering that Betts was drafted as an infielder by the Boston Red Sox and that he played a good part of his apprenticeship in the minor leagues in this position.
Betts might return to do his turn on the right once in a while, but that will no longer be his base position.
The Dodgers' 2024 defensive scheme
With Betts moving to second base, it is expected that LA's three regular outfielders next season will be James Outman, Chris Taylor and Jason Heyward. Jonny DeLuca is expected to serve as the club's fourth outfielder.
However, a major issue remains to be resolved by the start of the next season. Who will play shortstop?
Last year, Gavin Lux was supposed to play shortstop full time. However, an injury in training camp ended his season before it even began. Miguel Rojas tried as best he could to compensate for his absence, but the Venezuelan had an atrocious season at the plate and he is not a sure bet. In an ideal world, the Dodgers must seek reinforcement to support Betts. Yes, there is always Lux, but the latter, at 26, is slow to prove himself in the show.
The name of Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers came up among the rumors, because the Dodgers had expressed interest at this time last year for.
Also in the trade category, Jorge Mateo of the Orioles could be a potential candidate, as there is congestion in the Baltimore infield. However, Mateo, like Rojas, had a disastrous campaign at the plate last year.
Via the free agent market this time, obviously the name of Tim Anderson comes up, but hey! Finally, the Dodgers could always make the decision to repatriate Amed Rosario, who finished the year in California. Let's just say that, like Anderson, it would not be a panacea, far from it.
