{"id":2987,"date":"2017-01-07T19:29:25","date_gmt":"2017-01-08T00:29:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonbaseball.com\/?p=2987"},"modified":"2017-06-20T09:51:40","modified_gmt":"2017-06-20T13:51:40","slug":"dodgers-second-base-question-unanswered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2017\/01\/07\/dodgers-second-base-question-unanswered\/","title":{"rendered":"Dodgers Second Base Question Still Unanswered"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Los Angeles Dodgers came though this offseason when it came to retaining Justin Turner<\/a><\/strong> and Kenley Jansen<\/a><\/strong>, but the the team\u00a0still has questions at second base.\u00a0 Even though the team has left open<\/a>\u00a0the posibility of bringing back\u00a0Chase Utley<\/a><\/strong>, it would likely be in a bench role. No matter what they choose, Utley\u2019s best days are behind him and the Dodgers have yet to find his successor.<\/p>\n

Dodgers Second Base Question Still Unanswered<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Dodgers have been mulling over a few options on the trade market. Most notably has been Ian Kinsler<\/a> <\/strong>of the Detroit Tigers. Due to make $11 million<\/a> in 2017, with a team option of $12 million for 2018, Kinsler could be a one-year rental for the Dodgers at minimum, saving them from having to give him a pay day if they don\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n

Logan Forsythe<\/a><\/strong> of the Tampa Bay Rays and, more recently, Brian Dozier<\/a> <\/strong>of the Minnesota Twins are two other options that the Dodgers have been looking at; however, getting either would likely require giving up key prospects. As Ken Rosenthal explains, the Dodgers are loaded<\/a>\u00a0with prospects and may be willing to part ways with Jose De Leon<\/a><\/strong> at the least, if not more. The question is, would it be worth it?<\/p>\n

After all, the Dodgers still have a loaded outfield, a problem that never seems to go away each offseason. The most notable\u00a0of those outfielders are\u00a0Yasiel Puig<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>and Andre Ethier<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0Even though Puig proved to be productive down the stretch after spending some time with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers often found themselves living pretty well without him. Ethier, for his part, missed out on the majority of the regular season;\u00a0Trayce Thompson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and Andrew Toles<\/a> <\/strong>helped fill the void, in addition to Josh Reddick<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0who is now with<\/a> the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Dodgers already gave up prospect<\/a> Jharel Cotton<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0to acquire Reddick at the 2016 deadline in a trade with the\u00a0Oakland A’s. Even though the trade paid off in the short term by bringing a much needed arm to the pitching rotation in Rich Hill<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Reddick can arguably be called a bust.\u00a0After coming in to replace a struggling\u00a0Puig, Reddick was forced to share right field after he wasn\u2019t good enough to keep Puig submerged in the minors. The true cost will be determined by how far Hill will the take Los Angeles\u00a0over the life of his three-year deal<\/a> with the Dodgers, and by what the A\u2019s get out of Cotton for themselves (or from another team).<\/p>\n

Regardless of how they do it, the Dodgers ultimately need to find an answer. Whether it\u2019s mortgaging the future of their organization, or losing some cash to give away Ethier or Puig, they\u2019ll need someone to at minimum play the majority of the time over Utley, if not replace him completely. The right move could put the finishing touch on\u00a0one of the best infields the organization has ever seen.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n