During Wednesday’s media conference at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti made it very clear that the team still has a glaring need before spring training begins a little over a month from now.

“I’d like to get another infielder in here just to give us a little more versatility, a little more presence,” said Colletti. “Somebody that can contribute sometimes on an everyday basis, sometimes off the bench-type of player.”

Colletti went on to say that even though recently acquired Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero is the favorite to be the Dodgers everyday second baseman heading into spring training, the 27-year-old is not a lock at the position and will have to compete for it.

“We still have questions at second base,” said Colletti. “If you’re going to put who’s leading the pack today Alexander (Guerrero) is that player, but he hasn’t played a lot this winter. He’s been battling some hamstring issues which is kind of understandable because he hadn’t played for a long time.”

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told the media on Wednesday that Alexander Guerrero is “leading the pack” as the Dodgers’ everyday second baseman heading into spring training.
(Ron Cervenka – ThinkBlueLA.com)

It was at this point the the floodgates kind of opened up, with Colletti naming four guys on the current 40-man roster with infield experience: Hanley Ramirez, Guerrero, Dee Gordon and Justin Sellers. He also spoke very highly of soon-to-be 25-year-old Los Teques, Venezuela native Miguel Rojas, who the Dodgers acquired as a free agent prior to the 2013 season. Rojas spent all of 2013 at Double-A Chattanooga after having spent seven minor league seasons in the Reds organization.

“Miguel Rojas will get a good look,” said Colletti. (He’s) an excellent defensive player. He’s played more shortstop than he has anyplace else but we’re expanding that, not only (at the Winter Development Camp) this week a little bit but we’ll continue to expand it in the spring. I think he’s game for the situation, I think he wants the opportunity and we’re going to give him that chance.”

Colletti also made it known that they haven’t given up on Dee Gordon as a possible option at second base or at least as a utility bench player.

“Dee Gordon went back to winter ball two weeks ago in Puerto Rico and has done really well playing second base,” said Colletti of the now 25-year-old Gordon. “Offensively (Dee is) playing really well, so he’s going to get a look (at second base) too.”

That leaves one guy remaining and he is hidden in plain sight – Justin Sellers.

Although Sellers has made it to The Show in three consecutive seasons with the Dodgers (2011, 2012 and 2013), he appeared in only 36, 19 and 27 games respectively. Defensively, Sellers has appeared in a total of 78 games but make no mistake about it, he is a very good defensive player.

In 2011 and 2012 Sellers played a combined 15 games at second base where he had a fielding percentage of (are you ready for this) 1.000%. That’s not a typo – he made exactly zero errors in 51 total chances at second base. And though his numbers dropped off a bit in the 50 total games that he played at shortstop (five errors in 187 total chances for a .973 FPCT),  they go right back up to 1.000% in the 13 total games that he played at third base (zero errors in 22 chances).

No one can argue that Sellers has been completely ineffective with the bat, hitting only .199 (47 for 236), but then Dee Gordon’s offensive numbers aren’t all that great either – especially for a guy who was mapped out to be a leadoff hitter (.254 with a dismal .301 OBP). That said and aside from his horrible .947 FPCT, Gordon’s speed and base stealing abilities are clearly his greatest asset – when he gets on base, that is. But from a purely defensive standpoint, Justin Sellers may very well be the best man for the everyday second base job if Guerrero struggles or cannot stay healthy.

Justin Sellers is making the best of his off-season working with Dodgers batting coach Mark McGwire at Kennedy Baseball in Anaheim. (Photo courtesy of Justin Sellers Instagram)

The cold hard fact is that the Dodgers no longer have the staple at second base that they had in Mark Ellis – at least not until Guerrero, Rojas, Gordon, Sellers or someone else who has yet to be signed by the Dodgers can prove that they are up to the task.

Stay tuned…