Los Angeles Dodgers: Five steps to return to the World Series next season
By Jason Reed
2. Sign a right-handed hitting outfielder
There was one significant gap in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup in the World Series: they were missing one more great right-handed hitting bat. Justin Turner was incredible but got tired, Chris Taylor was good as a leadoff man and Yasiel Puig fell flat in the World Series. When Puig provided that big right-handed bat, the Dodgers mauled their competition.
However, the second that big bat from Yasiel Puig went vacant was the second the Dodgers offense became human. Thus, the Dodgers lost every offensive battle and won their four games on pitching contests.
Los Angeles cannot continue to rely on Yasiel Puig to be a big bat, as he is too up and down. Instead, the Dodgers should utilize a somewhat deep free agent market and go out and get a right-handed hitting outfielder.
There are two options in mind; J.D. Martinez and Lorenzo Cain. Cain is likely the better option, as he can fill in atop the lineup, moving Taylor down to the fifth spot — or vice versa.
However, if the Dodgers could somehow reel in Martinez their offense would instantly be one of the best in the majors. Martinez is an absolute tank, slugging 45 home runs in 2017 to a .303 batting average.
Regardless of the route the Dodgers take, with so much freed up money they have to make a move on a right-handed hitting outfielder.