The Los Angeles Dodgers underwent a makeover this offseason to perhaps better prepare themselves for the future. Some of the names in their farm system have been impressive during spring training, including outfielder Joc Pederson and infielder Alex Guerrero.
And interestingly enough, they're both competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster.
Pederson is the less complicated case. The 22-year-old pretty much has the starting center field job locked up unless he were to endure an awful spring training. Los Angeles traded Matt Kemp earlier in the offseason to make room for the emerging Pederson and he's currently listed as the starter on the team's depth chart.
Although outfielder Andre Ethier voiced he wanted start in 2015 or be traded, that won't stop the Dodgers from playing Pederson. The 2014 Pacific Coast League MVP is batting .409/.458/.636 with six runs scored (team-high), one home run, three RBIs and one stolen base in 10 games. The only thing he has to worry about is his strikeout percentage because he whiffed 149 times in 553 plate appearances last year. Manager Don Mattingly said it wouldn't be too much of a concern, but it's likely it could be if it remains a glaring issue. Pederson has struck out six times in 24 plate appearances thus far, but has been making good contact.
"Mattingly and his coaches spent part of their Friday morning talking about how many talented young players they have in camp," ESPN's Mark Saxon wrote earlier in the month. "Just a couple of years ago, the topic, if it came up, would have centered on the lack of talent in the farm system."
Pederson is arguably the leader of this youth movement along with Julio Urias and Corey Seager.
However, there's also Alex Guerrero, who was signed to a four-year, $28 million deal after he defected from Cuba prior to the 2014 season. The 28-year-old spent most of last season at Triple-A Albuquerque with Pederson and slashed .329/.364/.613 with 38 runs scored, 15 home runs and 49 RBIs in 65 games.
He believes he ready for the majors and there's even a clause in his contract that gives him final say on whether the Dodgers can put him in the minors to start the upcoming season. He plans to refuse the transaction if the Dodgers are considering it.
But he might not need to because his statistics are speaking for themselves. He's batting .438/.471/.625 with five runs scored, one home run, three RBIs and one stolen base in 10 games so far and said he was open to playing some third base, which is where the Dodgers would most likely utilize him if he were to make the roster since they have veterans Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins at second base and shortstop (Guerrero is primarily a middle infielder).
Juan Uribe is expected to be the starting third baseman on Opening Day, but the Dodgers can likely trade him more easily than Guerrero because he's a versatile veteran infielder and is owed only $6.5 million in 2015 before he becomes a free agent. On the other hand, Guerrero is still set to earn a majority of his $28 million over the next three seasons and it's unknown what his trade value is because of his lack of experience at the major league level. The team can also release Guerrero, but that would be a lot to swallow since they already released Brian Wilson ($9.5 million) and absorbed $32 million of Kemp's salary in the trade with San Diego.
The most likely scenario is Guerrero assumes the role of a utility player, but Justin Turner is that man for the Dodgers. If Guerrero can show consistency in his defensive skills at third base then he could make a stronger case to become the top utility man or even a starter.
We'll see what the Dodgers decide to do at the end of the month, but don't be surprised if both of these men are on the 25-man roster on Apr. 6.
