Los Angeles Dodgers: Three second base targets better than DJ LeMahieu
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly shown interest in free agent second baseman, DJ LeMahieu. LeMahieu, however, is not that great of a target.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have some questions that need to be answered at the second base position this winter. With the team trading Logan Forsythe for Brian Dozier, and Dozier’s impending free agency, the Dodgers lack a true everyday second baseman.
The team has an in-house platoon consisting of Max Muncy and Enrique Hernandez that could play second. Muncy could be the guy against right-handed pitching while Hernandez would be the guy against southpaws.
However, Muncy’s defense is not great at second base and he very well could see a regression as the league catches up to him after his breakout season. Chris Taylor is also in the mix to play second as well.
All three of those guys had times in the year last season when they were ice cold and running that platoon runs the risk having no offensive production at the position if all of the guys are cold at the same time.
With that in mind, there are external targets that the Dodgers are considering as well. The biggest of which seems to be DJ LeMahieu.
Jon Morosi of MLB Network reported that the Dodgers, Washington Nationals and Minnesota Twins are among the teams interested in LeMahieu.
While LeMahieu did win the batting title in 2016, he is not all that exciting. He has been regressing since and last season he hit just .229 away from Coors Field. Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez had a better wRC+ than LeMahieu last season (86), which was actually worse than Logan Forsythe’s wRC+ in 2017 (90).
LeMahieu simply wouldn’t be worth the contract he is offered or the potential roster spot. Here are three second base targets that would be worth it, though.