Diego Cartaya – Dodgers Next 3B?

Posted By on February 18, 2023

You are not going to hear this said out loud and I am not going to reveal my sources (so you can take this for whatever you think it is worth), but there is growing sentiment within the Dodgers organization that Diego Cartaya might need to change positions. This is especially true if Will Smith can be locked up long term. The Dodgers have a plethora of Catchers and while everyone agrees that Diego can be an All-Star Catcher, it is his offense that is exceptional. Power bats such as this come along infrequently.

Catching is hard work and the defensive side of Cartayas’ game is his weakest. His power bat is generational. At 6′ 3″ getting low to block balls is not Cartayas’ strength. Max Muncy is signed for 2023 with the Dodgers’ option in 2024, which could align with the arrival of Diego as the Dodgers’ third-baseman.

No one has told me this is going to happen, but I can see the tea leaves and I have heard the speculation. Diego has a good, quick glove and he has a very good arm. 3B has been speculated as an ultimate destination by more than one or two people close to the team. Make no mistake about this: Diego Cartaya has “Judgeian Power!” Still 21, he will soon have his “man strength” and is a guy who might “average” 40+ HR. Of course, 1B is also a possibility, but Freddie Freeman is signed through 2027. However, the last couple of years could be as a DH.

Diego is “cat-quick,” and I believe it would take to 3B very quickly. He has a high baseball IQ and would be a fixture at 3B for many years. Of course, this is not “etched in stone,” but it is an idea that the Dodgers are evidently toying with. We might get a clue this Spring Training as we watch what positions Diego might work out.

With Dalton Rushing, who is a punishing lefty hitter, and others (Fernandez, Galiz, et al) in the minor leagues as catchers, it makes perfect sense to move Cartaya to a position of need… and 3B is certainly that position. In 2025, the positions could look like this:

C – Smith/Rushing

1B – Freeman

2B – Vargas

SS – Lux (I am still backing him)

3B – Cartaya

LF – Pages

CF – Outman

RF – Betts

This means that the Dodgers have a lot of opportunities to trade a number of other prospects. Of course, utility positions are available as well, but I cannot see guys like Mike Busch being utility players. However, all of this is conjecture, and everything is yet to be determined. It’s ironic that many of us believed that Will Smith would be the one to move to 3B, but I now believe that Rushing and Smith could alternate at C and DH with Diego as an Emergency Catcher and Austin in a utility mode or retired.

Of course, the Dodgers could just sign Manny Machado as a Free Agent when he ops out – I AM KIDDING! Don’t lynch me!

This article has 26 Comments

  1. Love it. Don’t want will removed from behind the plate! Big power bat at 3 rd. Start the process!

  2. Best long-term spot for Cartaya is 1B. Because of Freeman, DH is Cartaya’s non-C future. Smith is better suited to 3B.

    1. I cannot see Cartaya being a DH – he has a good glove and too much Zest for Defense. Also, Will loves catching.

      1. Right, but the existence of the DH means we’ll never have a true positional conflict with that failsafe always available.

  3. Interesting idea. Just hope to see them both fairly soon in future lineup at same time, but it’s hard to have a solid opinion being I never seen either play anywhere other than catcher. My limited best guess is Cartaya more suited in making the switch. Hoping to see a lot of Cartaya this spring maybe some in the infield

  4. Moving players all over is what the Dodgers like to do. When Freeman leaves they can move Cartaya over and put Rushing at third. 2-5-3. Third basemen and shortstops go to second, outfielders are a dime a dozen and all pitchers will become Openers. Just like the hat, it’s a New Era.

    We may however see a trend back to line drives and stolen bases. I read that, but, I’ll believe it when I see it.

    1. I will admit one thing, I despise Machado and never want to see him in a Dodger uni again. But I also admit he is very close to Arenado as the best 3rd baseman in the league. But when they were discussing it on MLB.TV last night, they said what I already believe, that Machado and LA would not work out. His last time here left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. There is precedent for a catcher moving to third. Some guy named Bench moved there late in his career. If Cartaya can make a smooth transition to third, I am all for it. I would love to see both his, and Rushings bats in the lineup. Really pleased that Rios found a home.

  7. I hope Busch has a huge spring and throws all these projections out the window! And I think Lux will have a huge year with the bat. Last year he seemed to be in defensive 2 strike mode every ab. And he still hit .300 before the injury but with no power. With the added strength and moving to #2 in the lineup I think the power numbers shoot up. Last year he took too many strikes on hittable pitches. This year I think he’ll be in grip it and rip it mode for strike one and two. At least 25 bombs or more this year. And if his arm improves than all-star possibilities are there for him!

  8. Interesting option. I wouldn’t be the first time the Dodgers made a move from catcher to infield. They did the same with Kyle Farmer. He played mostly catcher in the minors but played almost exclusively at 3B during his limited time in LA. He has actually played more at SS than any other position since he was traded to the Reds. Diego is a bigger guy (and likely not done filling out) so 3B makes sense. Farmer was hardly a highly touted prospect, so the comparison is limited. But I’ve always liked the idea of converting good hitting catchers if they can play other valuable positions. Craig Biggio played 2b and CF most of his career. Leading off he led the league in plate appearances many times. Moving him from catcher got him many more ABs and likely extended his career. If Diego can play 3B he will get many more Abs. With his bat, and Will Smith being Will Smith at catcher it would make sense. Assuming he actually can play 3B. Had Mike Piazza been able to play any other position besides 1B, I think he would have been moved early on in his career. The Dodgers and Mets had solid first basemen during his time with both teams (Mets had a series of AS first basemen) so a move from catcher didn’t make sense. But had he been capable of playing 3B, that would have been different. Get your best hitters as many ABs as possible. I’m all for that.

  9. I just read on MLBTR that Machado had actually given the Padres a date for an extension of his contract. They offered him 5 years and 105 million which would have made it a 10-year-255 million dollar deal. He turned them down obviously. They were speculating on MLB Tonight that his contract will be something between 35-40 Million AAV. I am pretty sure LA won’t go that route. My best guess is one of the New York teams. Both have a need at that position next year.

    1. Not impossible that Machado will wind up back in SD after letting both NY teams drive up the price.

      Ultimately Preller will probably have to decide on one of Machado, Soto, Ohtani. I don’t think they can afford more than one of them while still keeping Bogaerts and Tatis. Of course they could always trade Tatis.

      1. I still think he goes to New York, actually the Mets. Cohen will not be outbid for his services. And he makes the Mets all that much better.

        1. I vaguely recall an interview in which Diego said he played 3B before switching to C as a teen. This plan seems fine, especially if Smith is the superior defender at C. A tandem of Smith/Rushing could also help fill the DH role.
          Max still has a few good years left and could be the prime DH in 2205 while backing up at 3B and 1B.
          Dodgers do have a long history of moving guys around. Russell Martin was a C who also played 3B.( And he was great as a blow-out pitcher!)
          Farmer was a SS in college, and was converted to C by the Dodgers. The Reds moved him back to SS.
          Machado to the Mets seems right. He is ALL about the $$$$… I don’t think the same applies to Ohtani.

  11. Mark,

    Posted a link for a discount for mlbtv. The comment didn’t post. I assume it was because of the link.

      1. Sounds like it works out to be the same ($100) cost. In any case, glad your able to get some sort of discount.

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