Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes spoke to members of the media at the general manager meetings, including Joel Sherman of The New York Post (X link) and Bob Nightengale of USA Today (X link). Gomes relayed that the Dodgers are probably going to have Mookie Betts move back to the infield, either at shortstop or second base.
In the first half of 2024, Betts playing the infield was an incredible storyline, as he moved to the dirt after years of being established as a right fielder. He had been a second baseman as a prospect with the Red Sox but had moved to the grass in deference to Dustin Pedroia. He eventually won multiple Gold Gloves and other fielding awards for his work in right field but amazingly started switching back more recently.
The Dodgers gave Betts brief looks at second base in each season from 2020 to 2022 but then ramped it up, putting him there for 485 innings in 2023. They also started dabbling with Betts as a shortstop that year, with 98 innings at that spot.
The club was evidently pleased with the experiment, as manager Dave Roberts announced in December that Betts would be the club’s primary second baseman in 2024, with Gavin Lux planned as the regular shortstop. But when Lux struggled with his throws during spring training, the Dodgers decided to flip them.
That suddenly left Betts looking to essentially learn one of the most demanding positions on the fly, but it seemed to be working well enough for a time. He got a -4 grade from Outs Above Average at shortstop this year but +3 Defensive Runs Saved. He did that while producing a massive .304/.405/.488 batting line and 153 wRC+ through the middle of June, seemingly putting himself in the Most Valuable Player conversation.
Unfortunately, it was at that time that he suffered a hand fracture after being hit by a pitch and then missed about two months. While he was on the shelf, the Dodgers decided that he would be moved back to his familiar right field position once he healed up.
Now it seems that Betts will get another shot on the infield, which will immediately lead to speculation about the club’s offseason pursuits. The top free agent this winter is corner outfielder Juan Soto, though he is not the only intriguing guy in that category. The Dodgers could consider bringing back Teoscar Hernández or pursuing guys like Anthony Santander, Jurickson Profar, Tyler O’Neill or Michael Conforto.
The infield market, meanwhile, isn’t as deep. Gleyber Torres is arguably the top option at second base despite a mediocre season. He has generally hit well in his career but was barely league average in 2024. Since he’s not considered a strong defender, that dip at the plate was concerning. At shortstop, there is a strong option in Willy Adames, who has interested the Dodgers before. But apart from him, the top option is Ha-Seong Kim, who might miss the first half of the upcoming season due to shoulder surgery.
Given the disparity between those markets, having Betts on the infield perhaps gives the Dodgers the best opportunity to take advantage of the offseason conditions. Depending on how things play out, it could also give them some trading options. Between Betts, Lux, Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor, they could perhaps make someone in that group available. On the other hand, Edman and Taylor are super utility guys who can also play the outfield, meaning they could be valuable in providing support on the grass.
Without Betts, the outfield mix consists of Andy Pages, Edman, Taylor and James Outman. Catching prospect Dalton Rushing has started getting some outfield reps since he’s fairly blocked behind the plate with the recent Will Smith extension, as well as the presence of fellow catching prospects Diego Cartaya and Hunter Feduccia.
Perhaps this entire roster picture will change as the offseason develops and the Dodgers navigate their options in the coming months. They could add an outfielder or perhaps an infielder, then pivot Betts back to the outfield. The flexibility gives the Dodgers plenty of options for how to proceed and makes for a fascinating career arc for Betts.
Happy for Mookie getting another ring – won’t be his last.
Makin’ room for Mr. Soto?
Hopefully Teoscar over Soto.
Maybe there’s room for both.
Why Betts was below avg at shortstop. Put him back in right he’s an above avg outfielder. Plus the Dodgers have Edman and Rojas to play SS, both well above avg short stops. Lux was who was coming off a major surgery was below avg the first half, but was a huge contributor the second half and was strong def at 2nd. Don’t see the logic of moving Betts
Last year they said the reason for moving Betts had to do with managing his workload (forwhatever reason, Betts finds the infield easier on his body than the outfield), so I’m guessing that still applies. That leads me to think they’d prefer to keep Betts at 2B, if possible.
Absolutely, he had that hip problem a couple of years ago and the outfield requires you to cover much more ground at faster speeds. Over the course of 6-7 months, that takes a toll on your body much more than playing the infield, if you have that specific issue with the hip. The Dodgers don’t want him at SS ideally, so that leaves second base. Which means that Lux has to go. The Dodgers, rightfully so, will prioritize Mookie’s well-being over Lux. Lux simply hasn’t been good enough to justify the team accommodating him.
He’s going to play second base–which means there’s no room for Lux.
Making room for Soto and keeping Mookie away from the front-row freaks.
I don’t think Juan Soto fits well with the Dodgers. His defense is poor and zero defensive versatility.
I think the Dodgers should go younger at SS. The corners are aging veterans. I’ll bet they trade Gavin Lux this offseason.
They may pursue him in free agency to play the outfield.
I don’t quite get this bit you’re doing, but I like it
I think this is the same troll that’s had his bookie threatening him for 3 weeks after he lost thousands he bet but can’t pay…although the WS is over.
He should post on ‘Pro Football Rumors’ or ‘Hoops Rumors’. Then again, maybe he does.
It gets old after a while though.
Mute
Making a run at Soto perhaps. I wonder, if he does sign and if he agrees to deferred money, it gets him to sign with the Dodgers. I really would not be surprised that the Yankees don’t sign him back.
There’s a big difference in endorsement income between Soto and Ohtani. Very few players will be willing to do that to that extreme.
Juan Soto’s career earnings is 82MM. I think he will be just fine doing a massively deferred deal. If he cares about winning (which he claims he does), LAD is the team to go to. I’d be shocked if they’re not a top 3 favorite to win the WS for the next 5-6 seasons.
Ohtani made ove $50 million in endorsements last year. His deferred salary is for tax reasons. Soto will sign for the biggest payday. They all say they want to win then sign the biggest deal they can get.
@Joemo
The Dodgers aren’t going to offer him anywhere near what he wants. The best they’ll do is an offer similar to the one they made Harper: a 4/5-year deal with a monster AAV, which would hand Soto the record he wants but less than half the total that he wants even more.
And more to the point: LA doesn’t need him–and are arguably the only team in the sport that can say that. The Dodgers would be far smarter to spend the $600M on impact players that could shore up weaknesses.
LA is a Boras-whispered stalking horse, meant to drive the NY bids. Nothing more….
The Dodgers are focused on the Asian TV market. It’s obvious. They have Japan and traded for Edman because he pulled South Korean viewers for the playoffs and WS. I think they are making terrific business decisions. Soto doesn’t bring in any valuable TV markets.
I’ll believe it when I see it. I’m betting he gets the most starts in RF in 2025. Edman/Rojas at SS and Lux/Taylor/Kike at 2B.
Betts is better at 2B or RF. Edman is better at 2B. Lux is better at 2B. Kike is best at playing all over the field for versatility. Same for Taylor. Rojas the only true SS but he’s old. They may or may not address SS, but I don’t think that’s the best spot for Mookie.
Moving Mookie back to the infield? WHY? He is average in the infield and great in the outfield. Lux had a fine season at 2nd base. SS is covered.
My guess is that they said this because they are kicking the tires on Willy Adames but don’t want to sound desperate.
Oh I am so totally sure that’s going to work.
I strongly agree with both FoxDave And Mustard.
If for some reason they do return him to the infield, it will NOT be to play SS. He has already admitted that as hard as he worked, he was below average and it stressed him. It was also mentally and physically exhausting. I don’t think he would want that. My guess is it will be second base if it happens at all.
My gut tells me that there is an underlying reason, as per Mustard, why Gomes leaked this. It may have something to do with free agents that they are going to pursue in an effort to give them some leverage. Frankly, there is no reason why anybody should be announcing a week after the World Series has ended what they’re going to do all of next year with Mookie. It serves no purpose unless they’re trying to send a message to players, agents and other teams in this off-season.
@fox471
To ease the back half of his prime, and because it’s what Betts has made clear he wants.
Lux is a literal replacement-level player, who outside of a couple months last year, has looked the part (or worse, when not injured), and has no positional flexibility.
Moving Pages to his far more natural RF is better for him (and could end up being a Pages/Rushing platoon in 2025), with Edman going to CF and, hopefully, Teo returning in LF (where Rushing could also spell him).
Sign a shortstop (Adames, or a stopgap if you think Freeland is an actual thing), and..well, that’s why.
Don’t you get it, people? It’s the off-season. Sportswriters have to fill up the space with whatever will grab a headline. If the Dodger GM said that, which I doubt, it was more likely something like Mookie could figure into our infield plans. Long way to go until Spring Training. Of course this past year they did move Betts the week before opening day. If you want the 2 Hernandez, well as free agents, they have to sign them.
This is misinformation. The LAD GM said Dickie Betts was moving to the infield
Dickie plays the OF for the Crypt Kickers.
You’re ramblin’, man.
Tryin’ to make a livin’ and doin’ the betts I can
RIP Dickie, grateful for Tedeschi Trucks
Seriously, why? This is one of the few places I was hoping not to see politics today…can’t we all just enjoy baseball and the offseason without needing to bring the election into things?
Yeh this is a baseball site not a politics site
Go to twitter for politics
I agree with you, @Waldo29. I’m so sick and tired of hearing about politics. Plus, not only is Trump a lying, deranged jerk, but his policies are going to hurt the middle class. Why anyone would be celebrating that is beyond me. Enough already!
rtc; someone sure is brainwashed!
You’ll be better off in the next 4 years but you’ll never admit it!
Thank god the Dodgers front office is smarter than the mlbtr comment section. It’s a waste to put Mookie in RF, especially when you compare him to Lux. It’s also smart to keep one of your our best players motivated and happy and this does that.
Lux, defensively, has turned into a solid glove at 2nd. The problem is that his bat is flaky….and I suspect it will always be so.
Going by what Gomes said, if I were Lux, I’d be very nervous. It’s obvious that Betts could slot right into 2nd tomorrow without issue. But he struggled at times at short. I’d be very surprised if they tried him there again, especially seeing as though they already have two of the best at that position in Rojas and Edman.
Although I’m not as big a Soto fan as some, I wouldn’t mind seeing a Soto/Edman/Teoscar L to R outfield next season, with the only concern being on how many games Edman will have to spell Rojas at short.
But, I think between Teoscar and certainly Soto, they will be asking for too much loot to be practical for one team to swallow…especially since LA has already given away the keys to the piggy bank with Ohtani, Yamamoto, Glasnow…etc..etc.
@Luis
Lux is a replacement-level player; the Dodgers can and should do better.
But they don’t need Soto, which means they could use half of what he’d cost to sign Adames, Teo AND a frontline arm.
Meanwhile, a Pages/Rushing RF (with Rushing spelling Teo in LF as well) would be great, along with Edman in CF.
Thank god or God.
No thank god. I was referring to the pagan god of the Old Testament
Just a hunch… and I’ve been wrong a ton but I think there is some trade coming with the dodgers that involves Lux. Watching their parade and celebration- he wasn’t promoted much at all where the other tenured dodgers were featured pretty heavily.
Dodgers have some crunching to do as the have a ton of people on the DL that need roster spots theoretically.
I can see Outman, Lux, Miller, May, Gonsolin being on the bubble of the roster. Miller can be optioned and would be selling low. May has filthy stuff but can’t stay healthy… should be interesting.
I think they will try to fix Miller in the offseason. I agree that Lux and Outman should be used as trade bait. I think May is probably best served as a reliever. There is too much torque on his body for too many innings. Gonsolin was great as a starter for one season, and if that’s how he comes back, he could slot in as the #5 or #6 starter. I do think they’ll go to a 6-man rotation next season.
May doesn’t command enough pitches to be a starter, and he’s pitched so little over the last few years he’s unlikely to be built up enough to take one what passes for a full starter’s load these days. But given how the Dodgers got through a season and won a World Series without a conventional rotation, they have to be giving a lot of thought to how a pitching staff should look.
May as a reliever definitely intrigues me, but he would obviously have more value if he were a good starting pitcher. You’re right about the Dodgers needing to keep his innings down in 2025, so they will most likely have him be in the bullpen for much of the year, but it’s possible he could be needed to start, depending on various factors like possible injuries and if he just looks great. Imagine if May had been healthy and throwing like he did before he got injured, and if he had been available late last year; if that happens, he probably would have been the 4th starter, at worst, instead of those bullpen games.
And the Dodgers won’t trade Gonsolin unless he’s part of a trade package that nets them something really nice. They are going to a 6-man rotation and he’s likely to be an effective, cheap option that can give them 15+ starts.
I mean, Trump acts like a baby, and probably has many babies he doesn’t even know about, but this is not the place for talking politics. Pretty sure politics are outlawed here.
If he’s moving back to the infield it is because he wants to.
Plus being in the infield gives him future value over an outfield positition. (Terms of any contract restructurest, etc).
“Curiouser and curiouser!” Cried Alice
I don’t think the Dodgers are looking to sign anyone that wears diapers – maybe as a DH. But would definitely be limited defensively.
He needs to start pitching and playing catcher.
Chadwick Tromp?
“Between Betts, Lux, Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas and Chris Taylor, they could perhaps make someone in that group available”
Teams will be lining up to get a shot at Chris Taylor. He’s only owed $13M next year with a $4M buyout on ’26!
I see what you’ve done here and I like it.
How about 2 years of Jeff McNeil for $33.5 million (remaining contract) for CT and his one year. Then the Mets eat the Taylor contract.
I’m guessing Pages has an every day role next season, it’s just a matter of which spot in the outfield.
With Edman and Lux (guys who I guess can also play OF), you would think you would need Betts in the OF. I guess you can play Edman in CF, Betts at 2B and try to get Soto to play RF.
You did it now, Max. You woke up the Sky Screamers!
Edman is a better option at SS than Mookie. I don’t get why they want to give their best player more work than just being a very very very good RF.
Fair point. I wonder if it is Betts that is requesting it. And if he is going to the infield, it would make sense for 2nd base, right? That begs the question, is Lux getting traded?
My feeling is Mookie Betts is not the kind of player who requests anything. My feeling is he’s the kind of player who says I will do whatever the teams asks me to do — and then does it.
I guess if you platoon him with Lux it makes sense. But with Rojas and Edman in the fold for next season I don’t see why you’d put him at short. The current OF mix is pretty weak but that should be addressed in free agency. I wonder if they would ever consider letting Ohtani play the field. With his athleticism he surely could handle a corner OF spot.
Seriously doubt they’d play Ohtani in the field ever unless they decide they don’t want him to pitch anymore. Too much risk of injury. bringing back Teo or signing Soto (or Tyler O’Neal), playing Pages in CF, & Mookie in RF with Edman, Lux, & Rojas as your middle IF platoon makes way more sense. The Dodgers have a serious hard-on for making their players all play 6 or 7 positions each.
Pages was ass in CF though. You can get away with it during the regular season but you don’t want him out there in a playoff game. I like him much more in LF, where Teoscar isn’t such a hot fielder either. Maybe they will try to find a left handed platoon partner for him.
Teo back in LF.
Edman in CF (he’s a plus defensive CF).
Pages in (his far more natural) RF.
Muncy at 3B.
Adames at SS.
Mookie at 2B.
Freddie at 1B.
Smith catching.
Rushing (platoon with Pages in RF, also spell Teo in LF)
Barnes
CT (unless they move him and eat $$)
Rojas
Kike
Lux is a replacement-level player, literally. He has no positional flexibility, and plays only a decent 2B…and his glove doesn’t justify a bat best described as inconveniently undependable. He needs to go somewhere a perfectly fine 2B with a bat that can hold its own on a $2.75M deal and with control remaining will play every day–and the Dodgers need to move on.
Rojas is a great bench piece, with a bat you can feel good about situationally. But he’s not an everyday player anymore.
Soto would be a terrible use of resources; with $600M, you can re-sign Teo AND sign Adames AND sign a front-line arm (which they need). His already-shaky defense is going to wither, and the Dodgers have/will have no vacancy in the DH hole.
Maybe Mookie is just over having to fight fans for foul balls.
Trump going to fix this country!!! Pack the illegals and ship them back where they came from.
Making moves for Soto? Manfred is f’ed up if he lets the Dodgers pull another Ohtani deferred money move.
@Tiger
Your team can do it too, my man.
Anyone can.
The Dodgers are committed to getting Betts injured on the Infield similarly to when they moved Cody Bellinger to the OF–with a seperated shoulder…
Bellinger was already an outfielder. A Gold Glover in RF in 2019.
I just don’t see the Dodgers getting Soto. Why would they tie up that many more dollars and years? Even as great as Soto is.
There are too many other needs. And we need a lefty crusher. That’s why Teo and Kike should come back – unless Teo is just too much in years and dollars.
Many dollars come off the post-World Series payroll and the next three years. The Dodgers can easily afford Soto should there be mutual interest. Friedman has done an excellent job of staggering the long-term contracts. The Dodgers will also have several homegrown replacements ready during that time.
Because the Dodgers basically print money and can sign anyone they want?
The Dodgers don’t print money. They just do a fantastic job running their team and managing payroll.
Actually we the fans give them money. It doesn’t grow on the baseball tree.
I’m genuinely curious to know what account number you’re up to now
Tommy Edman and Miguel Rojas at SS in 2025; they can turn to Alex Freeland in 2026.
M’s going all in on 3rd place.
moving mookie to the infield is a good idea. this way fans cant pry away baseballs from his hands or physically assault him in the middle of a game
Unfortunately not shocking from the Yankee fans. Did you see the Gronk interview about those guys?
Moookie is now scared of fans in the outfield trying to snatch the balls from his glove after dealing with those ruffians at Yankee Stadium in the WS!
– Carl Winslow
Of course he is. Just terrified!
Well those NY sports fans act like barbarians lol
– CW
remember when the red sox traded him for alex verdugo? you remember that? that was awesome
I remember when the Red Sox traded one year of Mookie Betts for Alex Verdugo, Conner Wong and Jeter Downs, and took on most of the remainder of David Price’s dead contract. Do I remember incorrectly?
Sox didn’t have much leverage when Mookie made it known he was signing with the Dodgers once he became a free agent. I don’t even think another team attempted to trade for him knowing this was the case.
Netting three top prospects and getting rid of a bad contract looks for a single year seems like pretty decent leverage to me.
Ok Dodger fans. What about a trade with the White Sox for Crochet and Robert Jr. ? A really good young lefty starter and a young talented center fielder. Sure he had a down year but he’ll certainly rebound and both are very affordable.
Who could they offer?
Dodgers can’t decide where to play him. Mookie can hold his own anywhere, though much better in right.
Any idea why Betts gets zero flak for cheating with Boston in 2018? The media loves this guy. Why?
Baatz – How ’bout getting back to work counting them damn ballots, every year it’s the same thing with your state …. can’t count past 10 because you run out of fingers and thumbs!
Mookie prefers the infield, though I think the team is better with him in right. They could trade Lux and slot him at second or he’s got an entire offseason to work on his play at short. That would let Edman play CF. I don’t see Soto coming here, besides the money he’s a poor defender and base runner. I’m hoping they bring Teo back.
Makes sense, dodgers have some good OF prospects (pages, rushing) but basically no middle IF prospect with an ETA earlier than 2027.
That way they make room for a cheap OF with pages and rushing and avoid having to sign an expensive shortstop like Adames
I think LA will be all in on free agent Willy Adames. Betts is great in RF. He’s average, at best, at SS. When Betts came off the IL, did they put him back at SS? NO. They put him in RF and left gloveman Rojas at SS. I think this signaled that Adames would be in Dodger blue, in 2025 and beyond.
I don’t think we know yet how good Betts could be at SS. He had to learn the position on the fly. By the time he came off the IL the Dodgers had made covering moves so he wasn’t needed at short. With more time he could probably be a very good SS, because he’s so freaking good at everything. The Dodgers will likely make a run at Adames but his market will be inflated as the only top SS available.
@BlueSkies
We know that the daily toll of playing SS–and the all added work Betts was doing every day–is simply not worth it, considering the player in question. And perhaps he would be a very good shortstop, but there’s a reason you don’t see players moving TO the position, particularly in their 30s.
They should either pay Adames (who seems almost too good a fit) or pivot to a stop-gap if they believe that Freeland is close.
They could also kinda tank the shortstop spot offensively.
If you have a lineup of
C Smith
1b Freddie
2b mookie
3b Muncy
Of 1 pages
Of2 rushing
Of 3 edman
Of 4 outman
Util lux
Dh ohtani
They could certainly afford to have a glove first 90 wrc+ type of hitter at shortstop.
Of course they also could say screw it and spend another 130-150 mil on admames and make the lineup even better. Or they could spend to improve the OF and still get better without upgrading short.
2B Lux was a stud, in the second half of 2024. Solid glove and he hit.
He hits much better vs RHP. But, just as they did in 2024, Rojas can spell him vs LHP from time to time.
Betts makes LA’s OF better. If I were LA’s GM, Adames would be the one addition to my lineup. Then, I’d focus on having a deep and talented rotation and bullpen.
The question is what RF/2b duo will give them better production
1) betts/rushing
2) betts/lux
Offensively it might be 1 but defensively probably 2 by a lot.
Lux isn’t going to be their utility player. They already have Taylor, Rojas and Edman far better at playing multiple positions than Lux. Unless he’s going to spend the offseason figuring out how to make throws from SS, he either starts at 2B for the Dodgers or they trade him.
Second. He was a crappy SS, and they can sign someone.
“Meanwhile” can’t come in the middle of a sentence between commas. It has to START the sentence.