Mookie Betts May Never Move Back to the Dodgers' Outfield
On Monday the world learned that Mookie Betts would be making the move from right field to become the Dodgers' everyday second baseman. Manager Dave Roberts made the announcement during a live interview on MLB Network.
Betts split time between the infield and outfield this past season, bringing much-needed flexibility across the Dodgers' roster. It seems the team is planning to make the move more permanent than originally thought.
Roberts said Betts, 31, could end up playing second base for the rest of his career — a rare change for an elite outfielder in his prime. Betts has won six Gold Glove awards in his career as a right fielder.
Roberts said he “could see him playing the rest of his career at second base.”
Ideally, the move will help keep Betts on the field for as many of the 162 regular-season games as possible. Betts considers playing the infield less stressful than the outfield and Roberts has long been aware of his preference.
Additionally, Betts has played much better offensively while in the dirt. He had a 1.004 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) while playing the infield compared to a .970 OPS while playing the outfield in 2023.
The team is trying to maximize the impact of its star player; Betts may even have initiated the change himself. He came up as an infielder when he first got to the big leagues with the Boston Red Sox, so Betts is very comfortable making the change back.
“That excites me, and that excites him, most importantly,” Roberts said on MLB Network.
At $365 million, Betts' contract with the Dodgers makes him the highest-paid second baseman in MLB, easily outpacing Texas Rangers star Marcus Semien.
The Dodgers have already re-signed right fielder Jason Heyward, who excelled in a platoon role last season. Ostensibly, they will target another outfielder this winter who can fill the right-handed half of that platoon arrangement.
Betts' versatility is a gift that keeps on giving, and the Dodgers are very thankful for it.
