Dodgers Considering Major Changes for Top Outfield Prospects to Revamp Farm System

Nothing appears to be imminent.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder James Tibbs III against the Chicago White Sox during a spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 14, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a well-known logjam in their outfield prospect pipeline. That was true before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. It's still the case even now, after Zyhir Hope was traded to the Detroit Tigers in the package that sent Tarik Skubal to Los Angeles.

The Dodgers' top three prospects — outfielders Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota and Eduardo Quintero — are consensus Top-100 prospects in MLB. Charles Davalan (the 41st overall pick in 2025) and James Tibbs III (acquired in the Dustin May trade from the Boston Red Sox) both rank in the Dodgers' Top 10, according to MLB Pipeline.

The surest ways for an outfielder to escape a prospect list deep in outfielders, typically, involves a promotion to the major leagues or a trade to a different organization.

The Dodgers reportedly are considering Plan C.

Andy McCullough of The Athletic reported that the Dodgers have considered converting some of their top minor league outfielders to infielders or catchers.

Nothing has changed to that end in August. De Paula, 21, who's only played the corner outfield positions since the start of the 2024 season, remains a corner outfielder. Sirota, 23, remains a right fielder and center fielder.

Tibbs has alternated between left field, right field and first base throughout his third professional season. Interestingly, he's only played one game at first base since the calendar turned to August, and the last seven in the outfield through week's end.

Davalan, 23, hasn't budged from his left field/center field rotation. Quintero, 20, is the youngest member of the quintet. Perhaps that makes him the most likely candidate for a position conversion. A right-handed thrower, he could convert to catcher or all four infield positions.

Like the others, that conversion hasn't happened yet. Quintero has played center field and right field exclusively since May 21.

Midseason position changes are rare. The Dodgers are more likely to find new positions for their young outfielders after the 2026 regular season has concluded than now, with a little more than a month left remaining on the minor league calendar.

Tibbs remains the closest player in the group to the big leagues. An injury to Kyle Tucker, Teoscar Hernández, or both, could vault him into the Dodgers' corner outfield rotation. Tibbs is slashing .366/.480/.561 in his last 10 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City, with almost as many walks (eight) as strikeouts (nine).

If the Dodgers' front office sees more first base in his future, they are content to be patient for now.

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