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Dodgers Roster 2017: Depth remains key to new season

By Jamaal Artis

Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Rogers speaks with the media during day two of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2016; National Harbor, MD, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Rogers speaks with the media during day two of the 2016 Baseball Winter Meetings at Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /
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Here’s a hot take on the Dodgers roster 2017 and what it means for Los Angeles.

Don’t look now, but the Los Angeles Dodgers have quietly put together a deep roster during the off-season, they did this by retaining their big free agents, solidifying positional and pitching needs, and they have retained veteran leadership to continue to mentor their young stars.

Los Angeles did all this without trading away their most coveted young prospects.  They continue to have the highest payroll, but with some of their dead money contract expiring next year, they have set themselves up with financially flexible signings.

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They started the off-season by signing their big free agents.  Then, they re-signed starting pitcher Rich Hill, giving them a second ace to go with Clayton Kershaw.

The team also re-signed Justin Turner, their third baseman and co-leader in home runs and runs batted in as well as reliever Kenley Jansen.

In a span of the week the Dodgers kept their hottest right handed bat, the only other pitcher who could carry a team, and their hammer in the bullpen that turns the ninth inning into a futile mission for the opposing teams.  The Dodgers weren’t nearly done.

After a hodgepodge of veterans and platoons at second base the Dodgers decided this off-season they would solidify the position by making a trade, most fans favored the Twins second baseman Brian Dozier and his 42 home runs.  The Dodgers were unwilling to part with the prospects the Twins wanted and traded pitcher Jose De Leon to the Tampa Bay Rays for Logan Forsythe.

Forsythe is the right handed second baseman the team need whose home run power has improved the last two years in a row, helpful for a team that couldn’t hit left handers last year to the tune of .236.

Some of the Dodgers more quieter moves occurred this week when they signed former San Francisco Giants closer Sergio Romo and re-signed veteran Chase Utley.

Romo was on the mound for the last out of the Giants 2012 World Series win.  That kind of experience is just more help for a bullpen that came into it’s own last year and at times locked down wins when the starters faltered.

The Utley re-signing was more unique, as given the chance to play somewhere else for more money, Utley turned down the offers to stay with the Dodgers.  Utley may not be the hitter he once was but his presence in the clubhouse has been touted by his younger teammates who have grown thanks to Utley’s guidance.

With the kind of depth the Dodgers have built they can over come adversity like they did last year with all of their injuries.

Next: Grading The Dodgers' Off-Season Moves

They can over extend their opponents pitching, and they can save their own with the bullpen.  I can’t predict a victory parade in October, but it’s safe to say the Dodgers will be competing to put one on.

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