Los Angeles Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said Monday at the Winter Meetings in Dallas that Mookie Betts is planning on playing shortstop in 2025.
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With Betts at shortstop, Tommy Edman would mostly be playing in center field.
With Betts at shortstop and Edman in center field, the Dodgers would technically have room for Gavin Lux at second base.
Lux has been considered a trade candidate ever since Gomes announced Betts was moving back to the infield. However, with Betts at shortstop, Lux would be able to remain at second base in 2025 and beyond.
Betts graded out as a below-average shortstop in 2024. However, he was trying to learn the position on the fly after Lux struggled in spring training.
With a full offseason and spring training, the Dodgers are betting on Betts turning into at least an average defender at shortstop. If not — like they did last year with Lux — they’ll adjust.
For what it’s worth, Miguel Rojas told Dodgers Nation last month he’s preparing to help Betts become an even better defender before next season.
“Knowing that Mookie is going to be back, it makes me happy. It makes me excited to keep working with him and to keep going at it with Mookie at short and second base, because I know how better he got when the time was there,” Rojas said to Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain. “Imagine now that we can work in the offseason. He’s going to be working on his own throughout this time, and he’s going to be really good at wherever he has to play.”
Beyond Lux, the Dodgers are filling a big need by playing Edman in center field. With newly-signed Michael Conforto taking up one of the corner outfield spots, the Dodgers just need to add one more to finalize a solid starting core.
If Conforto mostly played against right-handed pitching, Andy Pages would be a perfect platoon option in the outfield.
The Dodgers remain interested in Teoscar Hernández, but have some stiff competition following Juan Soto signing with the New York Mets.
Following the reported Conforto signing and Gomes’ announcement regarding Betts, here’s a look at how the roster stacks up as currently constructed:
C: Will Smith
1B: Freddie Freeman
2B: Gavin Lux
SS: Mookie Betts
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Michael Conforto
CF: Tommy Edman
RF: Andy Pages
DH: Shohei Ohtani
Bench: Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, James Outman
