It was as if they all got together beforehand and read from the same script. During Saturday’s FanFest event at Dodger Stadium, nearly every Dodger player interviewed by the media after their respective stage appearances said they same thing about the depth of their team and even about acquisitions made by their division rivals.

Adrian Gonzalez:

“Last year we were talking about the Padres being so good and those other teams. You’re always going to have teams that so-called experts are going to be saying that they’re going to be the team to beat or that they improved or this or that, but at the end of the day we know that we’re a team that’s going to be right in the middle of the pennant race come September and we’re going to be in the best position we need to be to get into the playoffs.

“I think we have probably the deepest team in baseball. We’ll be able to afford basically any injury which a lot of teams can’t say that and talent-wise we’re at the top of all of baseball.

“As far as having other teams improving or people saying they got better, that’s not really for us to care about because we know that we have the talent and depth that you need to have win a division again.”

Gonzalez believes that the Dodgers have the deepest team in all of baseball this year.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Clayton Kershaw:

“Zack was obviously an incredible pitcher for us for three years and last year arguably one of the best in the game. It’s not easy to replace a guy like that but I think you have to look at it as not replacing him with one guy but replacing him as a staff  – bring in more guys that can fill his void – and I think we’ve done that.”

Kershaw believes that the off-season acquisitions by the Dodgers “as a staff” will fill the void left by Zack Greinke’s departure. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Scott Van Slyke:

“Obviously we have a lot more options on our team than we have in the past, which is good. We got pitching in case people get hurt, we got extra guys in case people get hurt on the field.

“I think overall, if you look at our team, it’s very similar to last year – give or take a couple people – which I think is normal for any team. I like it, I like the make up.

“I think if you look at last year with the Padres, I mean they got huge pieces that everybody thought was going to make them a huge team and obviously that didn’t work out very well. But I think as a core group in LA for the Dodgers, we have a very good core group that kind of spirals outward from the core. I think that’s important – to have a good core group of guys – that bring stability to the organization and I think that it you’re able to keep most of the core guys from years past, I think you’ll be similar, if not better, than years prior.”

Van Slyke was quick to point out that just because a team make some huge off-season acquisitions doesn’t necessarily make them a winning team. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka(

Dave Roberts:

“[Howie Kendrick] adds depth and when you got him, Chase and you got Kiké and JT, I think we’re covered in the infield.

“We’re definitely going to dice it up. I think that with Howie, [he] is open to playing some third, playing some second. The season, as it plays out, we might move him around a little bit. The guys are open to it. I think if you look at the positions, there’s a lot of plate appearances to go around.

“The number one thing is there was a buy-in as far as whatever is good for the ball club – from Chase, from Howie, from JT, from Kiké – so I think that there’s going to be plenty of opportunities…”

“I think there’s some question marks but I think it’s a pleasant problem. I think that if you look at the roster, you know it’s better to have guys – too many good players than not enough good players – so I think that for me, I’m excited.”

“A long major league season you’ve got to have depth and coverage so this six weeks [of spring training] is going to be good for all of us to kind of see the comfort level of each player at a different position possibly.”

Roberts calls having too many good players “a pleasant problem.”
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On paper is appears that the Arizona Diamondbacks won the off-season with the acquisitions of starters Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller and the Giants a close second with the signings of starters Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija. But as we all know, the game isn’t played on paper and injuries happen that can ruin the best laid plans; just ask Padres general manager A.J. Preller.

To be perfectly honest, it is highly unlikely that Greinke – at age 32 – will put up the same kind of numbers that he did last season. And even with his MLB-best 1.66 ERA in 2015, his 12-year MLB career average ERA is 3.35 – still outstanding, but a more realistic projected ERA going forward.

Although every Dodger fan has their personal favorite player at each of the eight everyday positions, it’s safe to say that spring training 2016 at Camelback Ranch is going to be very interesting and perhaps the most competitive at nearly every position in decades. And while it’s pretty much a given that Adrian Gonzalez and Corey Seager will break camp as the Dodgers’ everyday first baseman and shortstop respectively, nearly every other position is basically up for grabs – this in spite of several very lofty contract obligations.

But if Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi have taught us anything during their short time in LA, it’s that they are not afraid to run their best eight guys out there every day regardless of the number of zeroes on some of these guy’s paychecks – and when it’s all about winning, how can you not like that?