The Dodgers are being far from reserved about their plans for filling now vacant spots at closer, second base and third base. The Los Angeles-based team’s management has prepared a wide range of scenarios and plans to fill vacancies during this season’s winter meetings.
The Dodgers’ president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, claimed that the previous two days of meetings were productive, despite turning down the opportunity to comment on plans to fill the team’s vacancies.
Recent deals such as a three-year deal with pitcher Rich Hill, who is set to earn $48 million over the next three years with the Dodgers. The Dodgers reportedly hope to sign Kenley Jansen and Aroldis Chapman, both of whom are currently free agents.
Despite this, there’s been little in the way of Dodgers news about third baseman Justin Turner, who insiders claim the team hopes to re-sign. Friedman has stated that the Dodgers can afford to re-sign Turner, provided other teams respect the team’s player value expectations.
The Dodgers are reportedly speaking to other infield options. A recent Fox News report claims that Yangervis Solarte, who currently plays for the San Diego Padres, is one of the players the Dodgers are talking to this year.
For Friedman, the current environment provides the Dodgers with plenty of options, something that the team appears interested in acting on. Friedman recently claimed he was “comfortable” with the position the Dodgers currently occupied, in spite of the vacancies:
““We have goals that we want to accomplish this off-season. But when they happen is not something that we feel like we can force. If you get caught up in these three days, in our opinion, you can end up making mistakes.”
This comfort could result in the Dodgers leaving it until next week — or even the coming weeks — to find new options for the club’s vacancies.
