Dodgers: Three backup options for Cody Bellinger at first base
By Jason Reed
![PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Cody Bellinger (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) PHOENIX, AZ - OCTOBER 09: Cody Bellinger (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/c774bc64fdd42ddc6739beec23ca7253b6d5211e0cef602abac3f3def8f09a06.jpg)
3. Sam Travis
Again, Sam Travis may not be a name many baseball fans know unless they are fans of the Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox selected Travis in the second round of the 2014 MLB Draft. In the minors, Travis has excelled by flirting around the .300 mark. Although Travis is the Red Sox’ third-best prospect, Boston could afford to part ways with the young talent for big league talent.
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Boston has not been hesitant to make the same kind of moves, either. It is not like Travis is an elite prospect with a ton of hype. He is a solid prospect that has no path to first base, especially now considering that the Red Sox resigned Mitch Moreland. With a loaded outfield, Travis’ path to the big leagues becomes even foggier.
However, the one thing the Red Sox are lacking in their big league club is a solid catcher. With Austin Barnes taking over catching duties with Kyle Farmer behind him, the Dodgers could do a straight swap for Yasmani Grandal.
Grandal could launch many home runs over that short right-field fence and Travis could become a utility player for the Dodgers.
What makes Travis so desirable for the Los Angeles Dodgers is his right-handiness as well as his ability to hit southpaws. Although the sample size is small, Travis hit .381 in 48 plate appearances against left-handed pitching.
This option certainly is the biggest stretch of all three but it makes perfect sense on paper. Although the MLB is never run in the perfect sense, this kind of deal very well could happen.
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Regardless if it does or not, the Dodgers are going to have to figure out some sort of gameplan behind Cody Bellinger at first base.