January 4th, 2021 at 8:00 am 
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Recent reports have the Dodgers kicking the tires on free-agent infielder DJ LeMahieu to play either second or third base in 2021 for the next four or five years. Doing their due diligence makes sense for the team, as the 32-year Visalia, CA native and second-round draft pick in 2009 by the Chicago Cubs out of LSU would be a straightforward acquisition (as opposed to a trade) for a Gold Glove defensive second baseman who is also an above-average third baseman, and in the last two seasons a remarkable offensive player for the New York Yankees. Slot him into second base if 36-year-old fan-favorite Justin Turner re-signs, or move him to third base if Turner signs with another team, pairing Gavin Lux and Chris Taylor at second base.
(Note: Super-utility Kiké Hernández is also a free agent and unlikely to re-sign with the Dodgers in-lieu of signing with another team as an everyday player, which he certainly deserves to be).
But (there always seems to be a ‘but’ during Hot-Stove player transaction discussions, doesn’t there?) an interesting alternative for the Dodgers roster was recently suggested but takes some outside-of-the-box thinking to wrap your mind around: sign free agent outfielder George Springer.
Wait! The Dodgers need help on the infield, not their already-overcrowded outfield, particularly if Turner signs with another team.
Contractually, LeMahieu and Springer are reportedly in the same ballpark as far as contract length and total dollars, so we will not debate payroll issues – only the best addition for the 2021 team and beyond.
Signing Springer, a year younger than LeMahieu, would require a couple of position moves for the Dodgers but not unfamiliar changes for the players involved – Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy. Springer would become the Dodgers regular centerfielder (or right fielder if future Hall of Famer Mookie Betts moves to center), Bellinger would return to first base, where he is considered a Gold-Glove-caliber defensive player. Muncy would move to second base, statistically his best defensive position. Dodgers re-sign Turner to play third base, backed up by power-hitting Edwin Rios. In this scenario, Lux would share left field duties with AJ Pollock and occasionally play second base. Taylor would then becomes the team’s super-utility in place of Hernández.
LeMahieu is a good offensive player but he doesn’t come close to the offensive capabilities of Springer. In his career, LeMahieu has a 100 wRC+, exactly Major League average. Springer’s career wRC+ is 134, 34 percent better than LeMahieu. For comparison purposes, Turner’s is 130.
But… what if Turner signs with another team? If he does, the Dodgers have a couple of viable options:
- Platoon Edwin Rios and Chris Taylor at third base; or,
- Move Muncy to third, with Lux and Taylor at second; or,
- Sign a veteran third baseman like Todd Frazier to platoon at third base with Rios.
But… what about Springer’s participation in the Houston Astros 2017 cheating scandal that effectively stole the World Championship from the Dodgers? This may be an insurmountable obstacle for Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers, and possibly Springer himself to put behind them. Putting Springer in the same clubhouse with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw, Turner, Corey Seager, Kenley Jansen (et al.) may be too disruptive to even consider.
…but oh what a formidable lineup this would be!
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Yet another excellent piece, Jesse. Thanks!
I’d rather sign Barry Bonds and a chemist then Springer.
No offense meant towards the author or the work put in.
No offense taken. I understand your point completely.
Thinking even further in outside the box. After signing both Bonds and the chemist we could send them on a Goodwill mission to China and have Barry cloned in the process. Then pump him full of steroids at 16, because by then all drugs will be legal, allowing him to hit 5000 home-runs none if which would come dressed in orange and black. The chemist can also revamp the concession stand to reflect the new era and good times.
Turner a little outside of the box with his 4 year request. He best crowd the plate a bit closer if he wants to play in Dodger blue.
So sad to hear the news involving the lovely Mrs.Vin Scully. God Bless the family and all of the close friends!!
Well said
@Dodgers I’ll pass on George Springer.
I can understand why you, and most Dodgers fans would feel that way — I have great difficulty getting around the cheating issue, but Springer would make the Dodgers a powerhouse for the next 4 or 5 years.
4 yrs for JT???
No way. If he is looking for that level of compensation, he is not going to be wearing blue.
I look at it this way — teams offer one, or possibly two year deals which will likely be Turner’s last players contract. So, he opens negotiations with a four year proposal. This is a business negotiation, there is nothing to be gained by starting his negotiation at a reasonable level — use the give and take of the negotiating game to arrive at a deal to which both parties can agree upon. That being said, if Turner is demanding a four, or even a three year guaranteed contract he will hard pressed to get that from any team, and certainly not from the Dodgers. From the beginning of free agency I have predicted that Turner will get a two year guaranteed deal from Dodgers with a third option year that vests if he plays X number of games and/or plate appearances. Team may even include a buyout amount should the option not vest. The team could even include a fourth year option with same vesting options, but no buyout.
I can see Springer getting any more rewards then he has already been given. No punishment for cheating, keeping his ring, and to top it off…. putting him in LA where he is 99% sure to grab another ring. I would rather take a pen to my eyes first before seeing him in Dodger blue.
Now if he wants to give up that ring and not take credit for a WS he didn’t earn, well then he is welcome to join…. the Giants!!!! So we have more opportunities to throw at him. CHEATER!!!