Dodgers: Projections in the Outfield Favor LA Adding At Least One More Outfielder

Rolling with the current group of outfielders may not be enough to get over the playoff hump
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For the Dodgers, Mookie Betts can do it all but perhaps it's still not enough. The loss of Cody Bellinger was a tough pill to swallow, despite his hitting woes, and the Dodgers have yet to find a true replacement for the former MVP.

The Dodgers seemed to at least be in the conversations surrounding Aaron Judge earlier this offseason and perhaps there was hope of the team landing another top free agent outfielder. Of course, none of that panned out and instead the Dodgers are left with Trayce Thompson and James Outman to man the outfield positions next to Betts. 

Jason Heyward provides the non-risk signing that some pundits raved about, but this still leaves some glaring concerns. Enough concerns to make experts believe that the Dodgers will make another move to fill out the outfield (via Fan Graphs).

Where ZiPS remains concerned is the non-Mookie outfield positions. Trayce Thompson did terrific work in 2022, and there’s a lot to like about James Outman, but ZiPS is definitely not sold on them necessarily being plan Bs.

The Dodgers seem prepared to roll with their current group. 

The LF/CF mix of Thompson, Outman, leftover infielders, Jason Heyward, and a dash of JDM and maybe Bradley Zimmer feels a lot more like the backup plan rather than the one you start April with. It really feels like there should have been a big offseason addition at at least one of these positions.

While options remain limited this doesn't close the door for the Dodgers to at least make a big trade before the deadline. The Dodgers still have plenty of money to work with so chances are something is brewing in the near future. 


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Ryan Menzie
RYAN MENZIE

Ryan Menzie | Lead Contributor Ryan is an LA Native who has grown up praising the greatest athletes LA has had to offer. A love for sports ranging between basketball, football, volleyball and golf, a future Sports Management Masters graduate, and being engulfed into organized sports since seven years old, the passion and love for sports never ends for Ryan. If the words he writes don't paint the full picture of his true fandom, he will find more ways than one to tell the story and be more than willing to open up a nice LA sports debate with you. Favorite Player: Mookie Betts Favorite Moment: 2020 World Series. The Lakers won the NBA title and the Dodgers secured the World Series only a couple of months later. During such a rough time with COVID-19 and such a bleak look at how sports has tried to overcome the circumstances, it was a relief to see the night sky lit up for many nights and a makeshift parade in LA when it seemed like we needed it the most.