Los Angeles Dodgers: Why trading Joc Pederson is the right move
By Jason Reed
2. The Los Angeles Dodgers are already left-handed heavy
The Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to address the surplus of left-handed hitters on the team. The front office did bring in right-handed outfielder A.J. Pollock and right-handed catcher Russell Martin to replace Yasiel Puig and Yasmani Grandal, two guys that struggled against southpaws last season.
However, Pollock still was not great against southpaws last season and had a reverse split while Martin isn’t much of an offensive threat at all. The Dodgers would still benefit from adding one more right-handed bat to the order.
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That is what trading Pederson can accomplish. Not only does that trade accomplish the feat but Pederson is the obvious candidate to be traded. He has horrible splits against southpaws, is not tremendous in the field and would require a left field platoon.
The problem with that is the Dodgers’ options. The team could have Enrique Hernandez or Chris Taylor in left field but one of them is likely going to be at second base when the team faces a southpaw.
And while they both can start, it should not be a nightly tradition to start both utility guys and the Dodgers would benefit much more from having an everyday option in left field, especially once the playoffs roll around.
Some people have been saying the team can trade Pederson and play Cody Bellinger in the outfield but that would be a silly decision. We actually took a look at the numbers and the best defensive outlook for the Dodgers would have Bellinger at first and Max Muncy at second, not Bellinger in left and Muncy at first.
As we stated earlier, the Dodgers would obviously only benefit from this trade if it was for the right price. The right price is a right-handed bat that can play nearly every day in the lineup, preferably in the outfield.
Next. Dodgers that must be better to win the World Series. dark
Although I would take Abreu at first and Bellinger in left field.