How the Dodgers can get Giancarlo Stanton and Shohei Ohtani
By Jason Reed
The results:
Well, you would get the best team in baseball and perhaps the best, deepest team in MLB history. The batting lineup would be absolutely incredible and look something like this:
- Chris Taylor — CF
- Corey Seager — SS
- Justin Turner — 3B
- Giancarlo Stanton — LF
- Cody Bellinger — 1B
- Yasiel Puig — RF
- Austin Barnes — C
- Logan Forsythe — 2B
- Pitcher
Of course, there likely will be various platoons of different degrees at second base and potentially center field if Taylor does any second base duties. However, besides that, the top five spots in the lineup would be set in stone and would be the deadliest top five we have seen in quite some time.
As for Ohtani, his role offensively is confusing. Ohtani would slot in as the second pitcher behind Clayton Kershaw and would (hopefully) make all of his scheduled starts. With his bat, Ohtani may be limited to a pinch hitter on days before and after he pitches.
When the fourth and fifth man in the rotation pitch Ohtani can be thrown into the lineup. The Dodgers can throw him in the outfield, however, to keep him safe they can always throw him in at first base.
Regardless, the move then is simple. Move either Ohtani or Bellinger into left field. Move Giancarlo Stanton to right field. Then, depending on the handiness of the pitcher, the Dodgers can go with Taylor in center and Forsythe at second or Puig in center and Taylor at second.
The lineup then would look something like this:
- Chris Taylor — CF/2B
- Corey Seager — SS
- Justin Turner — 3B
- Giancarlo Stanton — RF
- Cody Bellinger — 1B/LF
- Shohei Ohtani — LF/1B
- Logan Forsythe/Yasiel Puig — 2B/RF
- Austin Barnes — C
- Rich Hill/Kenta Maeda — P
Is it weird? Absolutely. However, it works. The team would have six guys to start their lineup that can slug a long bomb. Placing Ohtani as far down as sixth allows him to transition to the MLB without pressure. Then, after that, the team has sneaky good at-bats in Puig/Forsythe and Austin Barnes.
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The only real break for opposing pitchers would be against the pitchers, on days that Ohtani pitches, even that is not a break. We could be on the brink of the best team in baseball history.