When Dodgers pitchers and catchers reported for spring training on February 13, nearly every position player – either on the 40-man roster or those who received non-roster invitations – were already in camp, even though they were not officially due to report until February 18. As such, and as you can imagine, the Dodgers clubhouse at Camelback Ranch was absolutely packed. In fact, there were maybe only two or three vacant lockers to be found.

But by this time on Monday morning, March 12, chances are exceptionally good that there will be at lot more elbow room – literally – in that same clubhouse.

“I don’t know the particular day, but this weekend seems at the forefront of our radar,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters on Thursday about when the first round of roster cuts from major league spring training camp would be made. “Part of it is to get guys opportunities over there [in minor league camp], getting them consistent at-bats or innings, as we start building guys up over here. It’s been good so far, and it just makes sense.”

“We’re getting there,” Roberts added. “With certain guys like Chris Taylor, Corey Seager and obviously Justin Turner, Matt Kemp, and Yasiel Puig, we’re kind of getting that continuity. As we thin the room out coming up here shortly and we’re getting guys back from sickness, it’ll start to kind of resemble what we’re doing going forward even more.”

With an unusually large number of guys (14 to be exact) vying for 3 starting outfield jobs and perhaps two bench spots, and with Roberts already hinting that they plan to carry 13 pitchers (five starters and eight relievers), the chances of landing one of the 12 remaining roster spots will be difficult at best. And even though the team still has 17 spring training games remaining (as of Saturday morning), and even though all of the roster cuts will not be made in one fell swoop, there are a couple of other pressing issues for Roberts, and even more so for Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi … what to do with popular outfielder Trayce Thompson and right-hander Wilmer Font, who are both out of options.

The Dodgers find themselves in a bit of a dilemma with fan favorite Trayce Thompson, who is out of options. This means that he must clear waivers before he can be sent back down to the minors, which probably wouldn’t happen. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

To be brutally honest, Thompson is having what can only be considered a mediocre spring, in which he is 5-for-16 at the plate, with all five hits being singles. And even though 5-for-16 equates to a normally very good .313 batting average, it pales by comparison to the batting averages of guys named DJ Peters (.438), Alex Verdugo (.364) and current former Dodger Matt Kemp (.348); with Yasiel Puig (.286) not far behind and expected to be a lock for the starting right field job.

Realistically, it’s hard to imagine that Peters and Verdugo will be on the Dodgers Opening Day roster; or that 2017 NLCS co-MVP Chris Taylor and his current .211 batting average will not. It is, however, easy to imagine that 25-year-old outfielder Joc Pederson and his anemic .143 spring training batting average could very well begin the 2018 season at Triple-A Oklahoma City … again.

And then there’s Corey Seager, who has yet to play even one spring training game at shortstop. As every Dodger fan knows, the soon-to-be 24-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native and 2016 National League Rookie of the Year has been dealing with what is being called “elbow discomfort” in his right (throwing) arm and has seen action only as the Dodgers designated hitter thus far, at which he is 2-for-16 (.125). However, on Wednesday Roberts told reporters that the extremely popular brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager will play his first spring training game at shortstop in a minor league game on Monday (March 12) and could possibly play defense in his first Cactus League game on Wednesday (March 14). Then again…

In the event that Seager can’t go, the Dodgers could fill his spot with super utility Kiké Hernandez, Taylor, or perhaps even utility infielder Donovan Solano, whom the Dodgers signed as a free agent on January 18 with an invitation to major league camp. The 30-year-old Barranquilla, Colombia native, who spent four seasons with the Miami Marlins and one with the New York Yankees, is 5-for-16 (.313), with three of those five hits being doubles. He has also played well on defense, having committed only one error in 24 total chances. However, all 10 games in which he has played this spring have been at second base, so there’s that.

That being said, Solano making the Dodgers Opening Day roster would probably only happen if Seager were to begin the 2018 campaign on either the 10-day or (Lord forbid) the 60-day disabled list, and even then it may not happen if the Dodgers choose to go with Kiké or CT3 at shortstop instead.

Let the cuts begin.