The Dodgers are without Gavin Lux for the year. While they insist they will give their internal options a chance, they should target this veteran shortstop.
With Gavin Lux out for the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to turn to their internal options at shortstop.
Those options, of course, feature Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Miguel Vargas, among others, with Mookie Betts occasionally filling in at second base.
But the Dodgers should seriously consider exploring external options — and veteran shortstop Jose Iglesias makes sense on a one-year contract.
MLB rumors: Why Dodgers should target Jose Iglesias at shortstop
Iglesias, 33, has played 11 seasons in the majors. He’s hit .279/.319/.382 with 47 home runs and 366 RBI throughout his career and is coming off a season in which he hit .292/.328/.380 with 118 games with the Colorado Rockies. He’s a meaningfully better option at this point of his career than fellow free agents Andrelton Simmons and Didi Gregorius and is familiar with National League West pitching.
It’s unclear, however, if the Dodgers have reached out to Iglesias following the Lux injury, though one National League scout feels the fit “makes total sense on paper.”
Besides, Iglesias would give the Dodgers further defensive flexibility in the infield — he can play both shortstop and second base, including 116 games at shortstop last season. He would not break the bank, either, as he’s coming off a season in which he earned $5 million and is likely to garner a contract around that number, or a little less.
Perhaps the Dodgers will want to stick with Rojas, Taylor and Vargas. But adding Iglesias makes plenty of sense. It ensures that their middle infield has proper depth entering Opening Day as they attempt to keep pace with the San Diego Padres. Financially, it would ensure that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman continues to have the flexibility to upgrade the roster during the season.