Los Angeles Dodgers: The positions that should be platooned in 2019

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(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Catcher

Traditionally, as we can see by the other two platoons that the Los Angeles Dodgers should be running in 2019, platoons are reserved for two different handed hitters. Over the last two years, the Dodgers have relied on Austin Barnes to make starts against southpaws as Yasmani Grandal, despite being a switch-hitter, is not great against southpaws.

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In that case, Grandal was still usually regarded as the starting catcher and Barnes was the backup that would get spot stars and would usually come in late in games after Grandal had been pinch-hit for.

With Grandal gone to the Milwaukee Brewers, the starting catching job was Barnes for the taking. Even when the Dodgers went out and traded for Russell Martin, the job always seemed to be Barnes.

Martin has had two good showings in Spring Training thus far and has swayed the conversation back his way. Either way, it appears as if the Dodgers are in an intense battle for the starting catching job in the spring.

At least there is one fun storyline.

It does not seem like much of a storyline at all, though, as Barnes and Martin bring different things to the plate and should split time fairly evenly. Martin has more experience with Clayton Kershaw and might be better for a young pitcher like Walker Buehler behind the dish.

Meanwhile, Barnes is more familiar with the Rich Hill, Hyun-Jin Ryu and whoever the fifth starter is going to be. It really is going to come down to who has the hotter bat at a specific time.

Next. Bad offseason takes about the Dodgers. dark

Instead of being a platoon used for different handedness, the Los Angeles Dodgers should run a performance-based platoon behind the plate in 2019.

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