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Dodgers will have riddle to solve with moving parts on roster

July 31, 2024

SAN DIEGO — With a number of injured players expected back in the weeks ahead, the Dodgers will have a lot of moving parts.

So they added some more.

Trade deadline pickups Tommy Edman and Amed Rosario play multiple positions. Three Dodgers currently on the injured list – Mookie Betts, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor – also play multiple positions.

When all are available, the Dodgers could have eight players capable of playing second base (including Gavin Lux, Cavan Biggio and Kiké Hernandez) and seven with experience at shortstop. Six of them also have played third base.

The addition of Kevin Kiermaier gives the Dodgers three options in center field (with James Outman, Andy Pages and Taylor) with spillover at the corner outfield spots.

All will not survive the roster shuffling to come. Something will have to give in order to create space on the roster and formulate a lineup on a day-to-day basis.

“I think this allows us a lot of different options to assess, and see how guys are coming along,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “And we’ll all sit down with Doc and the coaching staff in the coming weeks, and as guys start to come back, it will paint a clearer picture for us.”

Edman joined the Dodgers in San Diego on Tuesday and was surprised to be one of the players on the move at the trade deadline.

“It was very shocking,” Edman said of the trade from St. Louis. “I haven’t heard of too many guys getting traded while on the injured list, so I kind of thought that my name wasn’t going to be a part of it. But I started to hear some stuff over the past couple of days. Obviously I’m very excited that it was to the Dodgers.”

Edman had wrist surgery in October and expected to be ready for the start of the season. His recovery was slow, however, and he injured his ankle while doing defensive drills in June, pushing things back even further.

He finally started a minor-league injury rehabilitation assignment earlier this month and has played eight games, all at DH. The Dodgers plan to evaluate Edman over the next few days and formulate a plan to complete his rehab.

“It’s kind of tough to say,” Edman said when asked how much longer he might need on a rehab assignment. “I’m almost treating this like a kind of spring training. But having gotten a fair number of at-bats so far helps out with the timing factor. That’s one of the biggest issues, is getting timing back as a hitter. I’m going to try to get some live at-bats and then getting comfortable in the field as well.

“It’s tough to say exactly when that’ll be, but everything’s been feeling good so I’m excited to get back and contribute to this team.”

Edman won a Gold Glove at second base in 2021 but can also play center field, shortstop and third base. Rosario is expected to join the Dodgers in San Diego on Wednesday. He played mostly second base for them last year but has also played right field and third base for the Tampa Bay Rays this season.

The most interesting moving part in this puzzle might be Betts. With so many options at shortstop and second base, he might be better utilized back in right field, where he and Kiermaier would give the Dodgers 10 Gold Gloves side by side.

Betts has only recently started swinging a bat but he has continued to take ground balls at shortstop while waiting for his fractured left hand to heal. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts continues to work out at shortstop.

“I talked to Mookie today, that’s his intent. I welcome that, I support that,” Roberts said. “As we get to the middle of August when we’re expecting him back, I don’t know if that’s going to change. I really don’t.

“We have a second baseman that’s playing his best baseball in the last few years (Lux), so that shouldn’t be lost on anyone. Certainly not lost on me. And we have guys that can really defend in the outfield. So, I’m gonna have a conversation with Mookie and we’ll figure out what’s best for him and our ballclub when the time comes.”

Roberts did not dismiss the idea of Betts playing multiple positions when he returns.

“The facts are that Mookie is a superstar. He’s one of the best people and teammates I’ve ever been around,” Roberts said. “When he did play different positions – last year for example – he had one of his best years. So I don’t think that there’s a correlation to playing two different positions affects Mookie because using his words, when he plays defense, he plays defense and when he’s in the box, he’s in the box and he’s focused on hitting.

“I think the question is what’s best for the Dodgers? Where is it best for Mookie to play that is best for the Dodgers with the construction of the roster? I don’t think anyone knows that answer right now.”

FREEMAN STATUS

First baseman Freddie Freeman did not join the Dodgers in San Diego and Roberts said there is nothing to update on his status.

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Freeman’s wife Chelsea announced on Instagram last week that their 3-year old son Maximus was hospitalized as he battled transient synovitis, an illness that has progressed from a viral infection Maximus came down with at the All-Star Game in Texas. Freddie Freeman traveled to Houston with the Dodgers last week and went through his pregame routine before Friday’s game, but he was later scratched from the lineup two hours before that game and flew home to L.A. to be with his family.

“He’s still kind of in it with Max,” Roberts said. “I don’t see him coming back for this series and we have the off day after this series and we’ll revisit. To be quite honest, I haven’t even broached that subject of him coming back, I just don’t feel it’s right.”

ROSTER MOVES

In order to clear 40-man roster spots for the two players acquired Tuesday, right-hander Jack Flaherty and Kiermaier, the Dodgers designated two pitchers for assignment – right-hander Gus Varland and left-hander Nick Ramirez.

UP NEXT

Dodgers (LHP Clayton Kershaw, 0-0, 4.50 ERA) at Padres (RHP Dylan Cease, 10-8, 3.50 ERA), Wednesday, 5:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM

Orange County Register

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Dodgers will have riddle to solve with moving parts on roster

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