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Los Angeles Dodgers: Three different ways to handle second base

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his two-run home run with Brian Dozier #6 in the ninth inning at home plate during Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers 9-6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Enrique Hernandez #14 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates his two-run home run with Brian Dozier #6 in the ninth inning at home plate during Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Red Sox defeated the Dodgers 9-6. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

3. Re-sign Manny Machado, shift the infield accordingly

With Corey Seager returning from Tommy John Surgery and Manny Machado set to get a massive payday in the offseason, it is safe to say that many fans are already expecting the star shortstop to leave LA. I am one of them.

At the end of the day, Machado was acquired as a rental piece for a World Series push and he certainly helped the team get there, although he did not help much once the team was there. Seager is one of the key centerpieces of the franchise moving forward, compromising that is silly.

However, if the Dodgers want a big bat this winter and cannot go out and get Bryce Harper, re-signing Machado makes sense and is possible.

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The Dodgers can re-sign Machado to big deal, shift Corey Seager over to third base and Justin Turner over to second base. Seager is projected to be a more traditional third baseman, anyways, and should fair just fine thereafter manning shortstop at the big league level.

As for Turner, he is a natural second baseman and is going to provide proficiency wherever he plays. Personally, I think third base and second base are the two most interchangeable positions in baseball; any big league third baseman should be able to play second and vice versa.

I do not get the stigma around having Turner play second. If he is the third baseman and is shifted to the second base side of the bag it is fine, as long as he is labeled as the third baseman. However, if he lines up as the traditional second baseman it is all of a sudden a problem.

These are big-league baseball players and good fielding infielders truly can play anywhere in the field.

I am not in love with this idea personally, just because I am not a huge Manny Machado fan, but this would present a scary offense. I like Alex Verdugo batting leadoff next year followed by Seager, Turner, Machado, Muncy, Bellinger, Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal (or whoever the catcher next year).

Next. Dodgers 2018 in review. dark

That is a dang good offensive starting nine. As much as I do not like Machado personally, I think I would be okay with that lineup.

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