Some pre-trade deadline maneuvering coupled with players getting healthy will lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to soon have one of the deepest benches in baseball.
Justin Turner is expected to be activated from the disabled list on Thursday. That will give the Dodgers their 2017 NLCS MVP back — a certainly welcomed addition. While Turner was out with a groin injury, Manny Machado had moved to third base, but he figures to return to shortstop. In addition to Turner and Machado having spots in the lineup, the Dodgers also acquired Brian Dozier, who figures to see most of the starts at second base.
Getting Turner back and moving Machado to shortstop means the versatile Chris Taylor will likely move back to center field. After struggling the first month of the season, Taylor has come on lately and has raised his OPS to .776.
Cody Bellinger could also see time at center field along with Taylor. He slumped in July, batting just .228 with a .683 OPS. But he’s hit righties pretty well and could find himself in the lineup either in center or first base.
Home Run Derby participant Max Muncy, who has seen time at first, second and third, will likely form a platoon with Bellinger at first. Muncy has 24 homers and a .960 OPS but has been striking out and slumping the last few weeks.
The Dodgers also have three guys for two corner outfield spots: Joc Pederson, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig.
Pederson, who is batting .264 with an .866 OPS, figures to see regular action in left. Kemp, who is batting .298 with an .852 OPS and rebounded to All-Star form, will likely play both corner spots. Puig, who has a .790 OPS, will also see action in right. He was recently activated from the disabled list.
We have also gone this far without mentioning utilityman Enrique Hernandez. The supersub, who has played every position this season except catcher, is batting .214 but has 17 homers and a .768 OPS.
Not only will one of Bellinger, Taylor and Muncy likely find himself on the bench to start games, but the Dodgers will also have a top spare corner outfielder on the pine. Hernandez will probably join them.
Nobody can say that Dave Roberts won’t have plenty of options moving forward.
