May 20th, 2023 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 On Monday, February 27, the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres in their third Cactus League game of Spring Training 2023. Like all Spring Training games, whether the Dodgers or Padres won or lost was inconsequential, as the teams and players were only interested in conditioning and fine tuning their skills for the upcoming championship season.
But the baseball demons can be cruel manipulators of earthly plans. In the sixth inning, the otherwise meaningless exhibition game sent a tsunami-size wave through the Dodgers clubhouse and executive offices. Heir apparent shortstop Gavin Lux was running from second base to third, took an unexpected sidestep to avoid a thrown ball, and suffered a season ending, torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The injury to Lux inalterably changed the Dodgers roster planning for the 2023 season. The backup shortstops, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor, were thrust into sharing the position for the foreseeable future. However, both players have been frustratingly ineffective offensively, mired in season-long hitting slumps. After 45 regular season games, Rojas’ slash line was .197/.256/.237 with Taylor at .183/.246/.442.
In an effort to improve the offense, manager Dave Roberts has occasionally turned to perennial Gold Glove right fielder Mookie Betts to fill in at the critical middle infield position. But that change does not statistically improve the lineup, as outfielders Jason Heyward (.192/.312/.410), David Peralta (.204/.240/.306), and Trayce Thompson (.115/.280/.311) have been largely ineffective.
(SportsNet LA)
The offensive woes for the bottom half of the Dodgers lineup are exacerbated when backup catcher Austin Barnes (.098/.200/.115) is in the lineup.
What are the Dodgers options?
Regardless of Barnes’ offensive malaise, the Dodgers are not going to replace him on the roster. His defensive work behind the plate is too valuable, he is a respected team leader, and the quasi personal catcher for future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw.
To improve the shortstop and outfield offense, fasten your Dodger seat belts, and let’s get started with in-house roster and lineup changes.
- Trade Trayce Thompson to a team that is struggling and in need of a regular outfielder (Oakland A’s, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals?). Return to Dodgers would likely be lower level prospect(s) or perhaps an experienced reliever.
- Replace Thompson on the active roster with highly regarded outfield prospect Jonny DeLuca to platoon in right field with Jason Heyward.
- Chris Taylor returns to his previous super utility/defensive role.
- Platoon J.D. Martinez in left field when team faces a LH starting pitcher; J.D. would be replaced defensively in late innings. Martinez remains DH against RH starting pitchers.
- Mookie Betts becomes regular shortstop who would return to right field in late innings with Miguel Rojas taking over at shortstop.
If you are unfamiliar with DeLuca, you won’t be for long. The 24-year-old Thousand Oaks, CA native and Dodgers 25th-round draft pick in 2019 out of the University of Oregon in Eugene began the 2023 season at Double-A Tulsa, where he owned an impressive .970 OPS with 10 home runs and nine stolen bases in 10 attempts. More importantly for the Dodgers, DeLuca had a 1.364 OPS against left-handed pitching at the Double-A level. Through his first 16 plate appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City, DeLuca has an OPS of .847.
Despite his Rookie of the Year-caliber start to the 2023 season and despite his recent struggles at the plate, 26-year-old Dodgers outfielder James Outman‘s defense has been nothing short of sensational. During Friday night’s 5-0 Dodgers win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium, the extremely popular Redwood City, CA native and Dodgers seventh-round draft pick in 2018 out of Cal State Sacramento robbed Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt of what would have been a then game-tying solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
(SportsNet LA)
End-of-game outfield defense: right field – Betts / center field – Outman / left field – Peralta, Heyward, or DeLuca.
Making this roster/lineup change now would give the Dodgers several weeks before the August 1 trade deadline to evaluate and position themselves for a higher profile addition to the outfield and/or shortstop.
What do you think Dodgers fans? Do you have other options the team should pursue before the trade deadline?
Go Dodgers!
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Posted in 
Excellent piece, Jesse – one that has been on the minds of every Dodgers fan on the planet.
Although Neverett’s on-air comment about Thompson may have sounded harsh, it was 100% accurate. Since April 19 (a month), Thompson has appeared in 19 games, during which time he is 0-for-33.
He got to go.
@Dodgers I like your idea! Anything to get rid of Thompson. I am OK with Betts starting in RF and Rojas/Taylor at SS though.
Agree with you that CT3 is WAY better than Thompson defensively, but his offense is atrocious. As the great Tommy Lasorda used to say: “He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.”
Not really sure why you think any team would trade for Thompson. It is time to move on from him however. It amazes me that the Dodgers could not put together a better outfield. Peralta signing was unnecessary as he and Heyward are redundant. Might as well bring up DeLuca and see what he can do. Can’t be any worse than the Peralta, Heyward, Thompson clown show. Has Busch played LF? I would have him working out there in OKC. One thing is clear.
Something needs to change. Start by DFAing Thompson and bring up Busch,DeLuca or Pages.
Fair question about Thompson’s value to other teams. Thompson has always hit RH pitching and I think the Dodgers have misused him. There are teams desperate for OF help and his salary is reasonable considering his performance in 2022. Can only add that I agree 100% with you about Peralta. Yes, Busch has played LF in college and some in minors.
I have to believe that something will happen with Thompson within the next few days.
The Dodgers have several extremely talented young outfielders down on the farm who, if given a chance, would be significantly better that Trayce – on both sides of the ball.
Would be great to get just about anything for Thompson. Good for the Dodgers and for Trayce. I think a change of scenery would do him good. More playing time and less pressure.
@Dodgers trade for Tim Anderson
The topic of an upcoming piece.
I think your stating that T Thompson has been used incorrectly is accurate.
Not being able to hit lefties Thompson has put the Dodgers manager in an impossible position. He certainly can’t platoon with Peralta or Outman or Heyward so he really is in a bad spot. At this point he is wasting a roster spot.
I don’t have a problem with Rojas and CT3 sharing SS if we can get Peralta and Barnes to give us some offensive help.
I would also like to see
Deluca come up and take the T Thompson at bats and see what he can do.
How bout a deal for Greinke or Giolito to ease the suffering of the SP.
Keep the faith. Roberts has really done a great job this yr for sure.
I like the idea of adding Giolito at some point (help the Dodgers and keep him away from the Padres, Giants, Phillies, et al. Dave Roberts makes some head scratching moves, but I agree with you — all things considered, this has been his best managing job
More bad news Urias 15 day dl
With hamstring pull.
Saw that at start of Dodgers TV broadcast — We may see Bobby Miller and Ricky Stone against the Braves
Literally the worst I can remember for the Starting staff. I was thinking Hershiser and Valenzuela