via the Los Angeles Dodgers
Both Dodger ownership and fans have the expectation that the team will contend in 2022, especially in the wake of the additions made to the roster this offseason, including 1B Jose Abreu, 2B Chad Scott, and most recently, SP Nathan Eovaldi. Also contributing to the hopes is the belief in the bounceback potential of several mainstays, including SP Jarred Cosart, SP Parker Markel, and 3B Javier Garcia, all of whom had down years in 2021. And perhaps the most often heard reason among fans justifying their belief in the 2022 Dodgers is the presence of the club’s young stars RF Juan Soto, CF Curt Franklin, and C Jerry MacDonal and the belief that they will soar to new heights in 2022.
But what of the rest of the roster? Here we’ll take a look at the whole roster and forecast how it will look come Opening Day.
Starting Pitching
The rotation will be running back mainstays Jarred Cosart and Parker Markel. Cosart is entering his 10th season with the club and Markel his 5th. Knuckleballer Steve White is entering his walk year and 3rd season with the Dodgers. New addition Nathan Eovaldi will slot in as the #2 behind Cosart, this despite a downturn in production over the last two years. Confidence is high he’ll rebound. Rounding out the group will either be Tyler Glasnow, Cedric Flowers, or Jose Fierro, with the two not making it going to the bullpen. We’ve heard from the Dodgers front office this offseason an interest in upping the swing and miss induced by their pitchers, and so an early favorite for the 5 spot is Tyler Glasnow, who struck out 11.2 batters per nine in his time with LA in 2021 after coming over from Pittsburgh. Though from what we’ve heard from insiders, Glasnow hasn’t been given the spot just yet.
- Cosart
- Eovaldi
- Markel
- White
- Glasnow/Flowers/Fierro
Bullpen
Additions in free agency Austin Adams and Mike Montgomery are sure to make the club. The same can be said of Dennis Moore, who will be the club’s closer in 2022. As mentioned the two in the competition for the #5 spot in the rotation who don’t get that role will slide into roles in the bullpen. Andrew Musch has earned a guarantee after his dazzling work in 2021. That leaves two open spots, if the team is to roster 8 relievers. Two of Dave Hughes, Mason Hope, George Belew, Antonio Cruz will occupy the last two spots. Belew and Hughes are seen as the early favorites, according to a source.
CL Moore
Adams
Musch
Montgomery
Two of Glasnow/Fierro/Flowers
Two of Hughes/Cruz/Belew/Hope
Starting Lineup
Infield
Fans are ready to see 24 year old Jerry MacDonal begin his 2nd full season behind the plate. The right side of the infield will have a brand new look to it for Dodgers fans, Chad Scott manning 2B and Jose Abreu 1B. Mainstays on the left side of the infield Jurickson Profar and Javier Garcia will be seen once again in 2022. Profar is entering his 8th season in a Dodger uniform and Garcia his 6th.
C MacDonal
1B Abreu
2B Scott
SS Profar
3B Garcia
Outfield
Many, both locally and on a national level, have deemed 23 year old Juan Soto an MVP candidate in 2022 thinking there is another level in his bat that has yet to be unlocked. Curt Franklin, the July 2021 acquisition from Pittsburgh, will embark upon his first full season in Los Angeles as the club’s starting CF. Will he be able to replicate his 2021 breakout which featured his posting a 6.3 WAR? The less flashy Jeffrey Moore will be the left handed swinging member of a platoon in LF with free agent signing veteran Alfredo Silverio being the right handed member of the platoon. 2022 will be Moore’s fourth season in Los Angeles.
RF Soto
CF Franklin
LF Moore/Silverio
Bench
25 year old Nick Meyer will assume backup catcher duties. C.J. Hinojosa, reunited with LA after being acquired from Arizona in the J.D. Martinez deal last July, will serve in a role as a backup infielder. The last two spots remain up for grabs as Spring Training nears an end. Richard Hall, Derek Fletcher, Dave Jackson, Ted Simpson, Oscar Lester, and Wayne Knight are all vying for these last spots on the roster. Hearing Wayne Knight may have an inside track for one of those spots. The other is still wide open.
C Meyer
IF Hinojosa
OF Silverio/Moore
Two of Knight/Hall/Fletcher/Lester/Simpson/Jackson