The Dodgers announced today that third baseman Justin Turner has been placed on the 10-day DL with a “right groin strain.” Top outfield prospect Alex Verdugo was recalled to take the open roster spot.
There’s no real indication at this point of the seriousness of the injury, but Turner had been nursing some problems in that region already and the organization will surely want to make sure the strain doesn’t get any worse. Skipper Dave Roberts indicated he’s not yet sure whether the veteran may be able to return after the minimum required absence. Obviously, Turner’s progress will in large part dictate the duration.
It’s a bit of a disappointing turn of events for the Dodgers, who just installed Manny Machado into an imposing infield alignment. Of course, the trade also boosted the team’s depth. Machado will slide over from short to the hot corner temporarily, with the pre-trade slate of options still available to handle the remaining open positions.
If there’s a real concern here for the Dodgers, it’s probably the toll of multiple injuries on Turner. He opened the year on the DL with a broken wrist and hasn’t been operating at peak capacity since returning. He’s still delivering outstanding plate discipline and carrying a 110 wRC+, but has seen a significant power drop-off. Plus, Turner is drawing below-average grades in the field and on the bases.
As for Verdugo, the ballyhooed 22-year-old has not produced much at the plate in brief MLB action to this point in his career. But he’s hitting the ball quite well at Triple-A, where he owns a .349/.396/.506 batting line with eight home runs over 283 plate appearances. Verdugo likely would have received a longer look by this point with quite a few other organizations, but he’s still largely blocked in L.A. and may still not be in line for a significant amount of playing time or a lengthy stay in the majors.
Guess Machado won’t be playing in LA long term, because if they feel others are better than him at SS defensively, short term, I can’t see them choosing to play him at his desired position long term.
Or the other way around and they feel he is better than others at 3B defensively. Remember, we already knew they would get Seager back and he’s not going anywhere. Put Machado at 3B and they may consider trading Turner if they are able to re-sign Machado.
Or possibly sliding Turner to second where the Dodgers are getting little to no production and he has had success playing at in the past.
^^^ Earlier this season there was a report that, if the Dodgers made a run at Machado in free agency, that they would put him at SS, move Seager to 3B, and Turner to 2B. The emergence of Muncy might make Turner expendable, though. Or perhaps they keep them all and keep Bellinger in the OF for the near future?
JT can’t play 2B.
A guy with the name redturn2 can’t play second? Lol
It’s actually a real possibility Seager plays 3rd, Machado SS and Turner 2nd. Doubt Muncy will permanently replace Bellinger at 1st.
The question is will they really commit that much money to Machado.
JT plays 2B nearly every day. Funny not noticing how much time he spends over there.
There are lots of ways the Dodgers could deploy their players in the IF, but as Machado wants to play SS, and the Dodgers don’t see him as a long term SS, I am asking the following questions.
1. If playing SS is his desire, why would he sign where he won’t be the SS?
2. If LA doesn’t see him as a SS, why would they spend big money to play him there?
I believe Machado was only looking for SS $. Once he gets paid, i don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t slide over to 3b. Don’t matter anyways since the plan was always to move Seager to 3b.
Seager 3rd
Machado SS
Turner 2B
Muncy 1B
And move Bellinger to LF
Dodgers have a lot of Flexibility defensively
And having all those guys in the lineup is pure
They won’t trade Turner. Come on man. A healthy Turner is right there with Manny and he is an LA guy for a fraction of the cost.
Make a trade for Moose. When Turner gets healthy, Moose can be a lefty bat on the bench. He could also play some first if needed.
If there is one thing they do not need it’s a LH bat off the bench and the eating away at the threshold. Ok that’s two things, but seriously
I want to see them empty the farm and pick up as many rentals possible because, well I am a giants fan and it may bring their system to our level.
Dream Big!
That is absurd. Turner isn’t near the player Machado is, even during his career season last year. He’s also 8 years older. LA isn’t going to let Justin Turner get in the way of bringing back Machdo.
They’ll at least consider it. Turner will be 34 and has been hurt/ineffective this year. Nowhere near Machado level. Turner is still a very good player, but he’s getting older and his health is questionable. I’m sure they’ll at least consider making that kind of move.
Very comparable the last three years. Look it up. And again, fraction of $ because Turner did a hometown deal.
Or you play Turner at 3rd, Manny at SS, and Seager at 2nd.
That’s just asking for the worst defensive alignment. There’s a reason the dodgers would be trading for/signing machado and that’s to get more wins.
Forget the position players. Pitching will doom the Dodgers.
Not only is Seager’s defense as questionable as Manny’s, he just had TJ surgery, sooo 2nd seems logical to me.
Also, I don’t think defense is gonna be as big a problem as you think. Just as long as they score more runs than they’re responsible for giving up, they’ll be fine.
It would be much more likely that Seager stays at short and Machado plays third and Seager shifting to second and Machado playing short, but it is possible and would not be bad for resigning Machado, but the defense could potentially be awful.
I don’t see where any of these scenarios make much sense, really. The Dodgers anteing up for Machado in free agency is just not very likely, especially if it means rejiggering the entire infield. As for Machado’s play at SS, I’m not seeing any problems there at all, are you?
LA isn’t pinching pennies this season for no reason. There is no reason in the world to let Machado walk away from this club, if he plays well and fits in the club house. This team was a bat short against Houston last fall, and it cost them. Machado is a better player than anyone LA has had for a very long time, and needs to be retained even if it means shipping out lesser players.
And we’re still going to lose because we’re now a pitcher short got anymore smart ass comments.
Seagar and Turner have been every bit as valuable as Machado in recent seasons, and Kemp is this year as well. The thought of having all four in the lineup at the same time playing at their best, now that would be a murder’s row. Yet we know the Dodgers’ FO is not inclined to guarantee large contracts (nothing more than $100m so far) and we also know Machado’s is going to be way larger than that.
Machado is at 3.2 WAR, while Kemp is at 1.9. Machado has been slightly superior at the plate, and plays premium defensive positions, while Kemp is regarded as one of the worst outfielders in baseball. Only during his 2017 career season (which coincided with Machado’s worst season) has Turner been worth more than Machado. Turner turns 34 in November and seems to be breaking down phyiscally. He missed 30 games last year and has missed most of this season, and has been subpar at both the plate and in the field this year. He should rebound somewhat with better health, but which guy would you rather have moving forward? LA is not the Cincinnati Reds. A lot of payroll comes off the books in the next two years. They can afford Machado this offseason, and would be well advised to keep him. The Dodgers haven’t been in a position to offer a position player (in his prime) this kind of contract because none on par with Machado have hit the market in recent years.
Yeah, Turner’s wrist is way too attractive to baseballs. Time to throw him overboard before he stinks up the place. And you also must be right that no contracts over $100m have been signed in baseball over the last three years. So that totally explains why the Dodgers haven’t signed any.
I don’t care what the metrics say. Manny is a terrific SS and if the Dodgers sign him he should stay there. IMO Turner would go to first, Seager to third and Taylor to second. Muncy in Lf, Bellinger in center and Puig in RF. Joc, Verdugo, Kike and Toles are unbelievable backups. Such incredible depth.
Have you forgotten about a guy named Matt Kemp? Started the All-Star game? Hitting over .300 all season? Signed for next season as well?
He might get dealt in a salary clearing move.
Doubtful they move Kemp now, especially with Turner’s prolonged absence. He is holding down the middle of the lineup and producing huge results.
I think he meant after this season…
So you think he meant Kemp might be traded to clear payroll long after it would make any difference? Makes even less sense than the way I read it, but thanks anyway.
LA isn’t going to even think of trading Kemp while he is hitting like this, and it isn’t likely they’d find any takers anyhow, among American League contenders, none of which need a DH. LA would be in the position of eating part of the contract (yet again) and it doesn’t make sense to do so.