Anonymous LA Report Believes a Former Dodger Wasn't Doing Enough to Improve
Even though the Los Angeles Dodgers lost some key players this offseason, they remain one of the deepest teams in the league.
We're all familiar with the big names they've had throughout the years, but more times than not, "the other guys" would step up and propel LA to victory.
One former Dodger who helped guide LA to their 2020 World Series title, Edwin Rios, was one Dodger who helped the Boys in Blue remain a juggernaut in the league.
The main problem with Rios was his health. Because of that, LA had no choice but to non-tender the lefty, which made him a free agent that landed with the Chicago Cubs this offseason.
A healthy Rios was a force to be reckoned with, even when he first appeared in the majors in 2019. His power in the minor leagues was something the major league club was looking forward to, and he did not disappoint. In a limited role in 2019-2020, Rios hit 12 home runs in 60 games while posting a .972 OPS.
After that, the 28-year-old couldn't escape the injury bug. In 2021, Rios was only able to collect 51 at-bats in 25 games while slashing .078/.217/.137 before suffering a shoulder injury that kept him out the rest of the year.
Things didn't get any better in 2022, as he was only able to play in 27 games; however, he showed signs of being a common fixture in the lineup, mashing seven home runs and 17 RBIs in 86 at-bats. Rios' luck ran out as by June, he suffered a right hamstring injury that kept him out for the rest of the season.
Los Angeles Times writer Jorge Castillo caught up with the former Dodger in the Cubs camp. The lefty slugger expressed his frustration with LA towards the end of his tenure. Castillo gave some insight from the Dodgers' perspective on why they chose to cut ties with Rios after the 2022 season.
"The Dodgers, according to people with knowledge of the situation not authorized to speak publicly on the matter, didn’t believe Ríos was adequately developing his skill set beyond his power."
The Dodgers are known for building on players' strengths and utilizing them to the best of their ability. Their track record is impeccable, so if a report like this comes out, I'm going to tend to believe it.
Not only was Rios' injury an issue but his defensive struggles were a huge problem as he was a below-average defender. He spent most of his time at third base in six seasons in the minors and had 74 errors in 267 games. He played some outfield in the minors, too, but didn't make an impact out there.
Let's hope the former Dodger can stay healthy and become a better defender in the Windy City.
