Hard to imagine anything good coming from the failed negotiations for a MLB renewal Collective Bargaining Agreement, but there may be a small, silver lining for the Dodgers. The ten week (and counting) MLB owners lockout of players has provided the team a beneficial hiatus to assess several current player concerns. Rather than trades and free agent signings before 2022 Spring Training, the Dodgers have more time for information gathering in their roster decision-making process.

Perhaps two of the most important questions the Dodgers face for the 2022 season are the health of first baseman Max Muncy, and the availability of starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.

Muncy was injured on October 3, 2021, in the Dodgers last regular season game. Originally diagnosed as a dislocated left elbow, Muncy later said that he suffered a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament and that his “recovery was a little slow.”

How important is Muncy to the Dodgers? Over the last four seasons (2018-21) Muncy has been the team’s offensive leader in WAR (15.2), wRC+ (138), home runs (118), RBI (298), and runs scored (307). And, with shortstop Corey Seager’s decision to sign as a free agent with the Texas Rangers, Muncy’s left-handed bat will be even more critical to the team’s offense moving forward.

Having more time to assess Muncy’s availability for the 2022 season, regardless of his defensive position (or DH), should benefit the Dodgers as they determine which free agents to sign, or players to be acquired by trade after the renewal CBA has been ratified.

When MLB imposed the lockout on December 2, 2021, Dodgers starting pitcher Trevor Bauer remained in legal purgatory. The LA County District Attorney’s office had not yet completed their investigation of the July 2021 sexual assault allegations, and the Dodgers were left with the unenviable position of replacing three of the best pitchers in MLB: free agents Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer, and Bauer.

Through the first half of the 2021 season, Bauer had a 2.59 ERA and a 2.8 WAR when he was placed on paid administrative leave by MLB – a leave that would be extended through the remainder of the season and postseason. The loss of Bauer was huge to the Dodgers. If he continued to pitch at the same level for the remainder of that season, his 5.6 WAR would have been the third highest in MLB, ahead of Walker Buehler (5.5) and Scherzer (5.4).

On February 8, 2022, the District Attorney’s office announced that they would not seek criminal charges against Bauer. MLB will continue their investigation under the league’s joint domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy, but the Dodgers know that it is likely that Bauer will be available to pitch at some point in 2022, perhaps as early as opening day. So, the Dodgers can adjust their pitching plans accordingly.

Muncy and Bauer are not the only players where extra time is beneficial to the Dodgers 2022 planning, as the team will also benefit from knowing more about:

• The health of Clayton Kershaw’s left elbow
• Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle rehab from Tommy John surgery
• Garrett Cleavinger recovery from right-oblique injury
• Edwin Rios recovery from right (throwing) shoulder surgery

Successful organizations are those that can successfully adjust to business conditions. While a lockout and extended pause in the Dodgers 2022 roster building is not ideal, it may have provided the team with what it covets most – additional data and information.

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