There’s a saying in baseball as old as the game itself: “The job is his to lose.”

There’s another saying as old as the game itself – or so it seems: “Andre Ethier will be traded.”

With the Dodgers first full-squad spring training workout exactly five weeks from today, not only has Andre Ethier not been traded, but the Dodgers opening day centerfield job is still very much up for grabs.

Ethier’s horrendous second half of the 2014 season forced Dodgers manager Don Mattingly to relegate him to the bench. It also took him off the radar as a possible off-season trade piece… for now.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

It’s hard to believe that Dodgers top outfield prospect Joc Pederson will not get the opening day/everyday center field job; but then again, we thought the same thing about top outfield prospect Jerry Sands in 2012. Sands literally did lose his projected everyday left field job after an abysmal spring training in which he went 6 for 17 (.158), thereby surrendering his all-but-guaranteed job to 33-year-old veteran outfielder Juan Rivera.

If you were to judge Pederson entirely on the 18 games in which he appeared after his September 1, 2014 call-up – and believe me, there are some people who are – he did not look to be MLB-ready. During that time the 22-year-old Palo Alto, CA native went a dismal 4 for 28 (.148) with 11 strikeouts. He did, however, draw 9 walks.

But what Pederson pundits fail to realize is that he was absolutely sensational at every level of the minor leagues after adjusting to the pitching at each level, which culminated with him being named as the 2014 Pacific Coast League MVP. He was also a mid-season and postseason PCL All-Star and was honored for his remarkable accomplishments by being selected as the Dodgers 2014 Minor League Co-Player of the Year, along with top shortstop prospect Corey Seager. Simply put, it is both unreasonable and unfair to evaluate Pederson’s MLB potential base on a mere 38 plate appearances.

It is ridiculous to judge Joc Pederson’s MLB potential based solely on his 38 plate appearances after his September 1, 2014 call-up. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

While most of the focus has been on Pederson to eventually emerge as the Dodgers everyday center fielder, the seemingly perpetual Andre Ethier trade rumors have gone cold, and it now appears that the sometimes moody soon-to-be 33-year-old Phoenix native will be in camp when position players report on February 25.

“I expect Andre to be in camp, that’s for sure,” said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly during last week’s Winter Development Camp at Dodger Stadium.

That being said, and with the recent acquisition of utility outfielder Chris Heisey, the opening day and everyday center field job will probably boil down to who has the best spring training; in fact, Mattingly even said as much.

“We’ll probably play a number of guys in spring training, figuring out a combination of guys at the [center field] position,” said the Dodger skipper.

Taking this one step further, there is still the possibility that Yasiel Puig could return as the Dodgers everyday center fielder – a position that he played almost exclusively the latter part of the 2014 season when Matt Kemp became the Dodgers everyday right fielder. But with Kemp now gone, it stands to reason that Puig will return to right field because of his incredibly strong arm.

“I feel like the sky’s the limit with Yasiel,” said Mattingly. “I think I’ve said this before, I think Yasiel’s the only one that gets in his way. We know this guy can play, we know he’s really, really good. We feel like he can get better and better, but you have to continue to work, continue to concentrate and focus to get better.”

Although the Dodgers outfield once again seems a bit overcrowded heading into spring training, Mattingly sort of rolled out Ned Colletti’s infamous ‘It’s a good problem to have’ line, although Mattingly’s sounded a bit more refined.

“This league dictates [the need for versatility],” said Mattingly. “You better have two or three players who can play multiple positions or you’ll end up in trouble.”

This, of course, is where utility outfielders Scott Van Slyke and (probably) Chris Heisey come into play. Van Slyke was an absolute terror off the bench in 2014 – especially against left-handed pitching where he was 34 for 108 (.315) with eight home runs, 10 doubles and 17 RBIs. He was 29 for 104 (.279) with three home runs, one triple and three doubles with 12 RBIs against right-handers.

While a member of the Cincinnati Reds in 2014, Heisey finished the season hitting .247 with eight home runs, 15 doubles, two triples and 22 RBIs in 119 games played. And although he may not be the offensive threat that Van Slyke is, Heisey is a far better defensive outfielder having committed zero errors in 131 chances for a 1.000 fielding percentage. (Van Slyke committed two errors in 86 chances for a .977 FPCT in his 98 games played).

Needless to say, it’s going to be an exciting spring training – especially when it comes to deciding who the opening day center fielder is going to be.

May the best man win.