Cody Snavely
The Los Angeles Dodgers historic 2025 offseason is officially over with the start of spring training as pitchers and catchers report to Glendale, Arizona. However, the team still had one more move up their sleeve in the hours leading up to Super Bowl fifty-nine, with the team reportedly re-signing Kiké Hernández to a one-year deal.
However, with the return of Hernández, the Dodgers now have a logjam on the position player side, which will have to be addressed this spring before Opening Day in Tokyo, Japan. So, what players are possibly on the chopping block?
How Much Runway Will Chris Taylor Get in 2025?
It is no secret that offensively, Chris Taylor was not only the worst hitter on the Dodgers last season but also one of the worst overall hitters in all of Major League Baseball. Despite the atrocious .202/.298/.300 slash line and a wRC+ of 74 the Dodgers still rode it out with Taylor on the roster.
However, even in the Dodgers’ October run, which ended in their eighth World Series Championship, Taylor was an afterthought and more of a late-inning defensive replacement, only getting sixteen combined at-bats.
Entering the offseason, few insiders were sure what the Dodgers would do with the utilityman, who is entering the final year of his 4-year, $60 million deal and owed $13 million for the 2025 season.
As the Dodgers break for camp, it seems that Taylor will be part of their plans for now, but for how long? Taylor has been on a steep decline since re-signing with the Dodgers after the 2021 season.
While Taylor was an all-star during the 2021 season, where the righty slashed .277/.382/.452 with a 129 wRC+ in the first half, the second half showed signs of what was to come as Taylor only had a 90 wRC+ to close out the season.
Still, Taylor remained unbothered in October that season, becoming one of the Dodgers’ best hitters through the National League Championship Series, posting a 208 wRC+, including blasting a walk-off home run in the Wild Card round and three home runs in game five of the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves.
After that, it has been bleak for Taylor as the utilityman has not lived up to that $60 million contract figure, hitting a combined .222/.310/.374, with a .684 OPS and 93 wRC+ since the 2022 season.
Out of all the position players listed today, Taylor’s role seems to be the most redundant with the reported re-signing of Kiké Hernández. Both are known for their lackluster offensive performance during the regular season but offer versatility, being able to play multiple positions.
However, Kiké’s October heroics speak for themselves. After getting glasses in the second half of the season, the fan-favorite hit .274/.307/458 with a .766 OPS and 112 wRC+ in fifty-four games.
This cloudiness of Taylor’s role on the roster with the reunion with Hernández was also confirmed by Major League Baseball Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, who stated as much in his recent column on the subject.
Taylor, entering the final year of a four-year, $60 million deal, would appear in competition for a roster spot with outfielder Andy Pages, who has minor-league options remaining. As he approaches another crossroads, he is intent on rebounding from his .202 batting average and .598 OPS in 246 plate appearances last season.
If Taylor and Hernández both make the Opening Day roster, it would be based on the fact that second-year pro Andy Pages and newly signed Korean utility infielder have minor league options. However, how long the leash will be for Taylor is another entirely different question.
What Will the Learning Curve be for Hyeseong Kim in Year One?
Left somewhat forgotten after the Dodgers’ busy offseason was the signing of Korean utility infielder Hyeseong Kim, who signed with Los Angeles on the final day of his posting window to a 3-year, $12.5 million deal, with options that could extend it to a 5-year, $22 million deal and is set to compete for a spot on the 26-man roster.
However, the certainty that Kim will make the roster or have an everyday role is not guaranteed. For starters, the transition from Korean baseball players to Major League Baseball has been historically challenging, especially for a hitter.
Despite Kim coming off arguably one of the best seasons of his career, in which he hit .326/.383/.458 over 567 plate appearances. Over his eight years in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO), his career OPS was .766, maxing out a .841 during the 2024 season.
That OPS translates to a slightly above league-average OPS (.711) last season, but with the typical transition regression, it would be shocking if Kim matched or exceeded that number.
Interestingly enough, Kim’s contract does not contain a clause stating that the Korean infielder cannot be optioned to the minor leagues, which could be a route the Dodgers take if Kim struggles in spring training.
However, Kim has the advantage because he is a left-handed swinger, giving the Dodgers bench a different look while already having multiple righties on the bench in Austin Barnes, Miguel Rojas, and Kiké Hernández.
Also, to make room for Kim, the Dodgers hipped off former top prospect and everyday second baseman Gavin Lux in a trade to the Cincinnati Reds earlier this winter. Hence, the idea of sending Kim to the minor leagues is not the goal.
Defensively, Kim is as good as it comes as he is projected to be an above-average fielder with the ability to play second base, third base, shortstop, and perhaps a corner outfield spot. That said, there are still only so many spots the Dodgers can utilize Kim’s ability to be optioned since veteran Chris Taylor has none.
Will the Sophmore Pages Make the Cut?
Speaking of minor league options, another player with them is second-year outfielder Andy Pages, who will also compete for a spot on the 26-man roster this spring.
Pages, 24, had a decent rookie season last year, hitting .248/.305/.407 with a .712 OPS and a league-average 100 wRC+. However, Pages excelled last season against left-handed pitching, whereas the righty slugger had a 157 wRC+ against Southpaws last season. Where Pages struggled was against righties, with a 24.4 strikeout percentage.
Pages who missed the entire 2023 minor league season due to a shoulder injury cut weight and was back on track last year, eventually getting the call after veteran outfielder Jason Heyward hit the 15-day Injured List.
While Pages played a majority of his games in center field, Pages profiles more as a corner outfielder but did rank in the 75th percentile in OAA (1) and had an elite arm strength ranking in the 95th percentile.
Of all the players on this list, Pages undoubtedly has the most raw power, hitting thirteen home runs last season in a bench role.
Still, given Pages has minor league options and not being a “core” member of this Dodgers team, the Dodgers could opt to ship him to the minor leagues to start the season until they figure out what they have with Chris Taylor and Hyeseong Kim, which I think is the likely scenario.
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