Who Will Replace Mookie Betts In LA Dodgers Lineup ?

The Los Angeles Dodgers became baseball’s latest example of “Life comes at you fast”.

 

In this episode, the team was riding high after taking two of three games from MLB’s hottest team, the New York Yankees, a feat more impressive after the Yanks ran off to yet another streak.

One week later, the Dodgers first lost one of their aces, Yoshinobu Yamamoto to a strained rotator cuff.

Then two games later, their shoo-in representative for the All-Star Game Mookie Betts will be out for a considerable amount of time.

 

What Happened?

 

A few weeks back MLBbro.com featured an article on Mookie Betts that at the time was one of championship concern, but now has turned more into a foreshadowing piece. Our MLBbro admitted that playing a new everyday position of shortstop was a considerable challenge…

The challenges were added on Sunday with Mookie breaking his left hand in Sunday’s 3-0 Dodgers win over the Kansas City Royals. Earlier this week, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Betts was slated to miss anywhere from six to eight weeks. More importantly, the team believes that surgery will not be required.

Up until the injury, our MLBbro was in the NL MVP conversation with a hitting slash of .304/.405/.488, ten homers, 40 RBI and nine stolen bases.

 

What’s Happening?  

 

Despite the Dodgers leading the San Diego Padres by 8.5 games in the NL West, Dodger Nation is not interested in a division title after the team invested over $1 Billion in offseason acquisitions (and with a collection of 11 in the last 12 years).

It’s championship or bust for this expensive roster and their series win over their rival New York Yankees did not temper expectations in the least.

 

Roberts’ perceived timeline gives the team belief that Betts could get back into the groove at the shortstop position before the playoffs start assuming there are options at the trade deadline.

Even though the Dodgers put Betts’ absence at six to eight weeks, the Baseball Prospectus injury recovery database states the injury can take two to three months to heal.

In short, if the Dodgers are holding the shortstop position for Betts at the end of the season with his development stunted at the moment, rust could cost them the championship defensively.

None of the replacements will match Betts offensively. To be honest, the drop-off will be massive…

 

 

Who Will Replace Mookie?

Miguel Rojas will most likely be the primary fill-in at shortstop with Kike Hernandez getting game reps as well. Rojas is a better defender but his bat has been bad.

 

Don’t be surprised if the Dodgers give Gavin Lux another chance. He was the plan for shortstop before ACL issues, defensive mistakes in the spring and a .542 OPS landed him at second base.

 

In the minors, Trey Sweeney and Austin Gauthier are options but not likely.

 

 

What Could Happen?

 

If the Dodgers go the trade route, their huge lead in the NL West will give them the luxury of waiting until the last minute. Even if they did wait, the market is not the strongest when it comes to shortstops.

 

Willy Adames (Milwaukee Brewers): Adames is in a contract year, but his production will keep him around with the Brew Crew in first place.

 

Bo Bichette (Toronto Blue Jays): Two-time All-Star and league leader in hits in 2021 and 2022. This season has been a huge struggle. Plus his contract ends in 2026. The Dodgers will show how serious they are if they add to the $1 billion offseason price tag for the roster.

 

Paul DeJong (Chicago White Sox): If the Dodgers are balling on a budget, DeJong is the guy. The White Sox are going nowhere and will be unloading salary soon. DeJong is hitting the ball hard and matches Betts’ offense somewhat.

 

Over time, baseball fans will be reminded of what MLBbro.com already knows…the Dodgers need our MLBbro