Cody Snavely
The 2023 MLB Winter Meetings are in full swing, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke on MLB Network’s High Heat co-host Alanna Rizzo about Mookie Betts role in 2024. Surprisingly, Roberts informed Rizzo that Betts would be the team’s primary second basemen moving forward.
During the 2023 season, Betts was no stranger to second base as the MVP runner-up played a career-high 66 games at the position. Betts, who was drafted as a second baseman by the Red Sox, was excited about the idea of playing his “natural” position again, and with the Dodgers dealing with injuries to their middle infield, it was something they desperately needed from Betts too. But does the permanent change make sense?
Why the move makes sense
The idea of Betts playing 2B for the Dodgers is nothing new, and last year allowed many Dodgers fans, including myself, to grow to the concept of having a super-utility MVP player. However, at face value, I always thought the best version of the Dodgers would always have Betts as the primary right fielder, and I wouldn’t be wrong to think that. Throughout his MLB career, Betts has been known as one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball, collecting six Gold Gloves and six Fielding Bible Awards. However, since a 2021 hip injury, his defensive numbers have plummeted.
During the 2021 season, Betts was dealing with bone spurs in his hip, which had a massive impact on his overall play that year. While he was able to avoid surgery during the 2021 offseason, the pain, and injury have affected his play in more ways than one. For starters, his speed may be the most significant impact on his game. Betts, who was never known as a speedy runner, was also no slouch on the basepaths, but his sprint speed has dipped from 28.3 in 2020 to 27.2 in 2023, which puts him on the 47th percentile or under the league average. This dip in speed has now translated to his defense in the outfield.
In 2023, Betts had a negative OAA (Outs Above Average) across the board, whether at 2B or RF. Due to the dip in speed, Betts also ranked bottom in the league in the fielding range with a 15th percentile ranking during the year 2023. There is some link between the 2021 injury and the rapid decline in defensive production, and at the end of the day, the Dodgers need Betts’s bat in the lineup, which is why Roberts stated the move to 2B was more beneficial to the Dodgers.
It keeps him on the field the most and we feel it gives our roster the most optionality
via Dave Roberts on High Heat
On one of the latest episodes of the Bleed Los Podcast, Amie Cuevas asked me whether there is a correlation between the hip injury and the Dodgers pushing to get Betts at 2B. At first, I was hesitant to agree, but now, after Dave’s comments, I think a solid case needs to be made.
Who are the odd men out?
With Betts taking the bulk of the innings at second and the Dodgers confirming that Gavin Lux will be the starting shortstop, there is little room for Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch on the infield. Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes hinted earlier during the GM meetings in November that it is not out of the possibility that each of them gets work in the left field, but that is also to assume they are still on the team before spring.
Miguel Vargas got his chance to shine at the big league level last season, and in his time as the team’s primary second baseman, he hit an abysmal .195 with a .672 ops. Vargas was later sent down and replaced by Amed Rosario after the trade deadline, and while there could be a case made for his hand injury causing the dreadful stats, his small 2022 sample size was no better. Vargas did hit well in the minors this past season and is still only 24 years old, so there is a possibility he will stick around.
As for Michael Busch, the Dodgers’ current number two overall prospect and minor league player of the year, his role is unknown. Busch is known for his hit tool, hitting 27 HR with a batting average of .323 in 390 minor league at-bats. However, defensively, it is a different story. Busch would slot better as a first baseman, but the Dodgers were forced to improvise with Freddie Freeman at the right side of the infield for the next four years. Busch played all around the diamond from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and a few starts in LF, but he graded poorly in all of them. For the Dodgers, the most logical option would be to trade him, as with Betts taking over 2B full-time, it will be hard to get Busch on the roster.
What is next for the roster?
With Betts moving to a primary infield role, the Dodgers will need another outfielder, specifically a right-handed bat. The most logical option would be Jonny DeLuca, who has hit left-handed pitching well in his minor league career, posting a 1.001 OPS in 2023. DeLuca is also a tremendous defensive solution that brings speed to the basepaths. In his minor league career, DeLuca had a 92% success rate (58/63) for steals, which the Dodgers could desperately use.
As for external options via trade or free agency, MLB.com Juan Toribio has already linked the Dodgers to Teoscar Hernández as a viable bat that would supplement the loss of power in the outfield. On the crazier side with trades, the Rays are shopping Randy Arozarena, which would be a big get for the Dodgers, especially if they miss out on Ohtani this winter.
Catch the latest episode of the Bleed Los Podcast, where we discussed Betts’s move to 2B and more!
