Dave Roberts Really Likes Dodgers Projected Roster, But There Are Serious Question Marks
The Dodgers head into the 2023 regular season with a roster vastly different than the one that won 111 games a year ago. The star power has changed. Justin Turner, Trea Turner, and Cody Bellinger have been replaced by J.D. Martinez, Miguel Rojas, and David Peralta. They're entering the season with two rookies set to play big roles on the field and in the lineup.
It's a roster that's easy to have some concerns about. But Dave Roberts is seeing only the positives, as a good manager should.
“I love this group. I think that we’re equipped versus right, versus left. … I love the athletic ability. I love the veterans and the mix of youth. All that put together, I think we nailed it. Now we just have to go out and play.”
If a lot of things go right, this certainly can be a very good roster. Martinez brings some thump. Rojas brings an elite glove at shortstop, something the Dodgers haven't had in a very long time. Peralta brings consistency vs right-handed pitching. And James Outman alongside Miguel Vargas gives fans the first rookie position players to be excited about since Cody Bellinger made his debut in 2017.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith are expected to lead the Dodgers at the top of the order. And the expectation is that Max Muncy returns to form after an ugly 2022 season. And the hope is that Chris Taylor can figure out how to get somewhere near his 2021 glory.
But, if one or two of those pieces falter or don't figure it out, the Dodger depth is more challenged than it has been in a long time on the position player side of things. And the NL West is better than it's been in years.
There are a lot of question marks on this Dodgers roster, and this is just focusing on the position player side alone. The bullpen is pretty concerning too, but we'll leave that for now. Andrew Friedman better have a few teams on speed dial early this season.
