Dodgers: What are LA's Biggest Question Marks Heading into Spring Training?

The Dodgers head into spring training with even more questions than usual. We attempt to put together a somewhat comprehensive list of those questions.

Spring training is exciting for baseball fans — for a week or two. Then we get bored and anxious for the regular season to hurry up and start. This year, though, Dodgers fans might stay interested in spring for a little longer simply because of how many questions the team needs to answer before they break camp.

In this article, we're not going to try to answer the questions. We're just trying to put together a somewhat comprehensive list of all the things Andrew Friedman, Dave Roberts, and the rest of the Los Angeles staff need to figure out in the next seven weeks.

What version of Noah Syndergaard are we getting?

Syndergaard has been an All-Star with a triple-digit fastball. He's also been a league-average starter topping out around 94 or 95. Did the Dodgers sign version A, version B, or something in between?

What's the plan for Dustin May?

May made six starts in his return from Tommy John surgery last year before going back on the IL with a lower back issue. Assuming he's fully healthy, how much of a workload will LA be comfortable giving him? He's never thrown more than 56 innings in a big-league season or more than 141.1 in an overall season.

How will the World Baseball Classic affect players' ramp-ups?

Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Austin Barnes, Will Smith, Miguel Rojas, Trayce Thompson, and Brusdar Graterol will be participating in the WBC for various countries. Will that affect their readiness for the season?

Is Miguel Vargas a legitimate second baseman?

The rookie Vargas has essentially been told the starting job at second base is his to lose. How will he do defensively, especially without the shift?

What about Gavin Lux at shortstop?

Lux has played plenty of shortstop in his career, especially in the minor leagues. Now he heads into 2023 as the Dodgers' starter there for the first time. There are questions about his arm and his footwork.

Who will earn the center-field job?

Trayce Thompson, James Outman, Chris Taylor, Jason Heyward, and Bradley Zimmer are all options to start in center for Los Angeles this year. Who will win the job?

Will LA have a "closer"?

There are plenty of relievers in the Los Angeles bullpen who could be the closer if necessary. Will the Dodgers designate one of them as the ninth-inning guy, or will they go with a committee approach?

How close are Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone to the big leagues?

Both Miller and Stone are highly touted prospects who pitched well in Triple-A last year. They're both likely to debut in the majors this year, but spring will be the time to start figuring out how soon that might be.

Is there room for Michael Busch on the roster?

Busch was a first baseman in college, but Freeman is there. He was a second baseman in the minors, but Vargas is there. He's played some left field, but there are a lot of options there, too. Can they make room for him, or does he become trade bait?

Which relievers make the roster?

Guys like Justin Bruihl, Victor Gonzalez, and Phil Bickford will be battling to prove they belong in the big leagues.

Does Yonny Hernandez have a role?

When the Dodgers acquired Hernandez, he was viewed as kind of a utility infielder. But with the acquisition of Rojas, that role might not really be available anymore. Can Hernandez earn a job, or will be be in Triple-A waiting for a shot.

Who fills the leadership void left by the departure of Justin Turner?

This question will likely answer itself naturally, but it will still be fascinating to see how it plays out. Which parts of JT's role will Freeman fill? What about Betts? Kershaw? JD Martinez? Plenty of leadership options, but the dynamic will take some time to figure out.

We said "somewhat comprehensive" because there are surely questions we've missed, but this is a good illustration of just how much will be going on at Camelback Ranch this spring.