February 17th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 The names are familiar: Cody Bellinger, David Freese, Kiké Hernandez, Max Muncy, Corey Seager, Chris Taylor, and Justin Turner. When all are healthy, one of the most talented – and deepest – all-around infields in MLB today.
With all of the available talent, only one infield position is settled when position players report next Tuesday, Justin Turner is the third baseman with veteran David Freese as the primary backup. Starters at the other infield positions are to be determined, with Corey Seager’s rehab from surgeries being a key factor in who plays where.
(Video capture courtesy of TBS)
Safe to assume that the team and Corey Seager are cautiously optimistic that he will be the regular shortstop, if not on Opening Day then soon thereafter. At the end of January, Dave Roberts said that Seager would be 100% for the start of spring training; wonderful news for Dodgers fans. But that comment was tempered a few days later when Corey and Andrew Friedman, in separate statements, were more circumspect in their assessments, only committing to him (Seager) being on schedule with his rehab.
The best case scenario for Dodgers? Corey is 100 percent on Opening Day and the regular shortstop all season. Chris Taylor becomes the regular second baseman with Max Muncy at first base backed up by David Freese. This alignment allows Cody Bellinger to be the regular right fielder and Kiké Hernandez to share left field with Joc Pederson as well as being a backup in center field, right field, shortstop, and second base.
Other possibilities? The Dodgers will undoubtedly be very cautious with Seager’s recovery and might even use him at less demanding position(s) during the season as well as shortstop. Perhaps he plays second base when not at shortstop, but another option is first base, with Max Muncy sliding over to second base. Statistically, Taylor is a plus defender at shortstop, so he plays there when Corey is out of the lineup or at another position.
For those fans who attend spring training in the next few weeks, you may enjoy heading over to Camelback around 10:00 AM each morning and check out the positions Seager is taking repetitions. Be sure to report back here with what you see, especially if you spy him wearing a first baseman’s glove.
A wild-card that may effect the infield is outfielder Alex Verdugo. There is no doubt that this highly regarded prospect has nothing left to prove at the Triple-A level, but if everyone is healthy, he is likely headed back to OKC for the start of the season. However, if the Dodgers decide to start the season with Corey on the newly renamed “injured list” and remains at extended spring training, then Verdugo could start in right field, with Bellinger at first, Muncy at second base, and Taylor at shortstop.
The Dodgers depth with players capable of effectively playing multiple position is a terrific problem to have.
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Posted in 
I pretty much agree with everything here, Jesse, although I do not foresee Seager playing anywhere but short, based on what Dave Roberts said (or didn’t say) this past week at CBR.
My crystal ball is a little fuzzy when Corey’s name comes up, but considering how conservative the Dodgers have been with pitchers recovering from TJ surgery it will not surprise me to occasionally see him play another position to keep his bat in the lineup.
There may be DH, though I don’t expect that to happen this year.
Yes, that would be ideal for Dodgers and Corey, but I don’t believe the DH will be added to the NL before the next collective bargaining agreement.
You may be right, though next year is possible. I don’t think it’ll happen this year because it’s too late. NL teams don’t have the opportunity to plan off-season deals with the DH in mind.
Though I don’t like the DH I do think having it this year could benefit the Dodgers with their deep roster.
I think most of us are use to seeing every Dodger player in a different position.