"One of the most pressing needs the Dodgers have this offseason is the outfield. Their outfielders were firmly in the middle of the pack, offensively, and were better on paper, defensively, than they actually were when watching. I made a case for Cody Bellinger's return in my offseason plan and I laid out the reasons why I'm not big on Kyle Tucker in another post."
"Ideally, the Dodgers would acquire a guy capable of handling center field, which would shift Pages to right field and Hernandez to left. Hernandez didn't really hit enough to overcome a +1 DRS (which seems generous!) and a -9 outs above average (seem accurate). Pages' arm plays anywhere and the fact that he's decent in center field should, in theory, translate to him being above-average right."
"Free Agents CF/LF Harrison Bader, Phillies The best of the free agents remaining, Bader, 31, is coming off a career-year split between the Twins and Phillies. He hit .277/.347/.449 with a 122 wRC+. He did benefit from a .359 BABIP, but it was still easily his best offensive season in four years. He also played a more-than-competent outfield, posting a 13 DRS and 6 OAA spli"
Los Angeles needs improved outfield production for 2026 because current outfielders were middle-of-the-pack offensively and underperformed defensively. Teoscar Hernandez had a down season compared to 2024 and nearly disappeared at the plate in the postseason. Tommy Edman may be needed more at second base than in center. Acquiring a true center fielder would allow Pages to shift to right and Hernandez to left, masking defensive issues. The free-agent outfielder market is thin after Bellinger, Tucker, and Trent Grisham's situations, leaving Harrison Bader as the top remaining option coming off a career year.
Read at Dodgers Digest
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