The Dodgers’ roster right now looks a little less like a youth movement and a little more like a high school reunion where everyone keeps saying, “Wow… has it really been 15 years?”
For the record, I don’t dislike Alex Call or Santiago Espinal. Not at all. Both are perfectly respectable utility players. The baseball equivalent of a Swiss Army knife. Not flashy, but handy when you need to open a can of beans in the ninth inning. Solid. Dependable. Veteran.
And by “veteran,” I mean both are turning 32 this year.
Which fits right in with the Dodgers’ current demographic strategy: assemble the 2016 All-Star Game alumni association. The team’s average age is 31.5, making them the oldest roster in baseball. At this rate, the clubhouse coffee machine is going to be upgraded to a full espresso bar, and someone’s going to start handing out ibuprofen with the lineup cards.
Meanwhile:
- Kiké Hernández will be 35
- Tommy “Tommy Tanks” Edman will be 31
So when the Dodgers have a chance to move Call and Espinal for a couple of prospects, it’s not exactly cruel roster management. It’s more like opening a window and letting some oxygen into the room.
More importantly, it clears the runway for:
- James Tibbs III (23)
- Alex Freeland (24)
You know… people whose birth certificates don’t list “dial-up internet era.”
Now, someone will immediately point out that Espinal is hitting about 500 points higher than Freeland right now, and yes, that’s true. Statistically speaking, that is a rather noticeable gap.
But Freeland has basically made a career of struggling for a minute and then leveling up like a video game character. Every stop. Same story.
Meanwhile, Espinal is a career .240 hitter. That’s not Mount Everest. That’s more like a small hill behind a Walgreens.
And let’s be honest. When Kiké and Tommy Tanks return, Espinal is probably getting roster-yeeted into the baseball abyss anyway.
So why wait?
Let the kids play.
Give Freeland the at-bats, see what happens, and if nothing else, the Dodgers might finally lower their average team age enough that the clubhouse trainer can cancel the “stretching for men over 30” yoga class.
Trade Alex Call and Santiago Espinal for Prospects – Do it today, Andrew… while their value is high. FYI: I am not convinced that Freeland is going to hit any better than Espinol, but he is young and has to have a runway to find out.
The Dodgers are Focusing Less on the Longball
The Long Ball has been few and far between this Spring – this is true. Will it continue? That is the million-dollar question. Many hitters are simply trying to get their timing down, stay healthy, and avoid pulling a hamstring chasing a 450-foot bomb in Arizona. If you’ve been watching closely, you might actually like this development. A lineup that can score without waiting for the homer becomes terrifying in October, when good pitching tends to suppress power.
The only question in my mind is “Is this by design?” Have RVS and Aaron Bates changed their approach? It used to be: “Walk, double, walk… and then someone launches a baseball into low-earth orbit.” Maybe that is changing… we shall see.
i really like miller
Bobby Miller?
I think he is talking about Noah Miller.
I hope he is.
Maybe he just likes Miller Light and didn’t realize this was a baseball blog.
We are so fortunate that Ohtoni is now a Dodger for the next eight years. Even if Father Time catches up with him as it does to all of us, his signing will go down as the greatest in Dodger history.His ability and performance on the field is second to none, the enormous revenues he brings to the Dodger’s bottom line and let’s not forget the quality of the players he recruits in free agency that want to come play for the Dodgers,Yamamota.Sasaki.Tucker, and Diaz to name a few. Can’t wait for the 2027 season to get underway with a 3 peat in focus..We are Blessed!
Ohtani
Homers are great, but hits and walks are what make the runs go round and across the plate. ST has shown us that this team has some solid, disciplined guys at the plate. The more important fact is that there is a lot of trade-caliber value when needed when the deadline comes. The problem is keeping the ones who can actually be replacements for the aging players on the roster. I don’t see any stars in this group, a couple that will have good careers, but none that will replace them. There’s still time, but the growth of these few needs to come faster because the aged grow older faster than youth can mature.
This team shouldn’t have any issues bringing up guys to fill the holes during the season, whether positional or pitching. The Dodgers are looking in the best shape they’ve been in in a while.
I think three position players have a shot at being real stars:
1. DePaula
2. Quintero
3. Sirota
Of course, one… or none may make it.
Morales looks pretty good too
In time maybe, but would you be comfortable bringing either of these three up during the season to not make the loss of whomever they’re replacing noteworthy? I don’t. There are others before these three that still need progress. They’re low on the totem pole of who’s up next.
I think it’s very possible we see Sirota and/or DePaula this year.
DePaula looks like he could hit right now. That bat is special.
Old friend, Miguel Vargas is leading the White Sox with 22 ABs, and he’s hitting .409 with a 1.071 OPS. He had a nice season last year, and I look for a breakout year for him this year. He is their 3B.
BTW, James Outman is hitting .333 with a 1.076 OPS, but striking out at 45%.
8:05 PM ET
Rockies (43-119)
Dodgers (93-69)
SP Zach Agnos R
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Landon Knack R
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
2B Miguel Rojas R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
LF T. Hernandez R
3B Max Muncy L
CF Andy Pages R
DH S. Espinal R
RF Alex Call R
C E. Alfonzo S
77° Wind 6 mph R-L
Pretty close to playable
Starting to feel like Espinal is going to get his share of starts to begin the year. I could see him platooning with Kim or sharing infield spot start duty with Rojas.
He can help at 3B too.
I think AF dances with the ones that brung him. Kiki has a slot because he is loved and respected regardless of what his bat does. So do the other vets and Doc is on the same page with AF and management in regards to trusting his vets. These guys have two shiny rings and replacing them with rookies is only going to happen if we are in danger if not making the playoffs which probably won’t happen. In the meantime, the replacements wait for an injury and that’s the business of baseball.
There are some very talented understudies on Broadway.
Yes there is. On off-Broadway too. The Spring has showcased a lot of talent this year. How cool that the young guns have heal their own against MLB and high level minors pitching. One of the best revealing SP ever.
I am all set in the cockpit:
E-mail on the Left
LADT on the Right
Gameday on the laptop
Game on the 65″ TV on the wall
Life is good. The Dodgers are on….
UFC & WBC
It was interesting to hear the Dodger announcers say that there were at least 15 scouts from other teams in the stands tonight. They know the Dodgers have a roster logjam…
Knack trade incoming
Take my Trenien, please. (Apologies to Henny Youngman)
I know it’s spring, but Treinen doesn’t inspire confidence that he’s not in the same place he was last year…. Can’t throw a strike until he has to, and then it’s a batting practice FB over the heart of the plate.
Treinen has lost velo and is trying to make it up with spin… but he can’t control it.
He is not long for this team.
However, thank you for your service, Blake!
Amen to that. Plenty of arms in the pool to replace him.
Another Spring Surprise – Erdhard, as advertised, a speedy STRONG OF defender converting that speed into doubles. He is had an offensive spring equal to Tibbs and Pages (Go Andy!) and will probably continue to make noise in OKC. What’s amazing is that Tibbs and Erdhard have gained so much confidence and skills since they got under the Dodgers training wing.
Landon Knack has gone from “DFA” in some fans’ minds to “It’s a real possibility he makes the team“… or gets traded!
In what capacity,batting practice pitcher! There is NO way he makes the Opening Day 26 man roster. A career minor league pitcher with little trade value who has severely regressed over the years.
Over the past two years, Blake Treinen has gone from a true “Power Pitcher” with a 97-99 MPH fastball with movement to a 93-95 MPH nibbler who has to use a sweeper and/or lots of spin. I would not be surprised if he is released at some point. Good guy and teammate, but not the pitcher he once was.
The question will be is how many games will the front office allow him to blow,before they say ” enough is enough” and release him. Good guy or not, they released Taylor,Barnes and Heyward without any problem.
WBC Pool Standings (as of March 8, 2026)
Pool Team W-L Status
A Puerto Rico 2-0 Leading Pool
Canada 1-0 In Contention
Cuba 1-0 In Contention
Panama 0-2 Near Elimination
Colombia 0-2 Near Elimination
B USA 2-0 Leading Pool
Mexico 1-0 In Contention
Italy 1-0 In Contention
Great Britain 0-2 Near Elimination
Brazil 0-2 Near Elimination
C Japan 3-0 Clinched Quarterfinals
Australia 2-1 In Contention
Chinese Taipei 2-2 Pool Play Finished
South Korea 1-2 In Contention
Czechia 0-3 Eliminated
D Venezuela 2-0 Leading Pool
Dominican Rep. 1-0 In Contention
Netherlands 1-1 In Contention
Israel 0-1 In Contention
Nicaragua 0-2 Near Elimination
The WBC is great fun. Kind of goofy…. but great fun.
Loved seeing Trayce Thompson rob Will Smith. And there was a Jeter Downs sighting too.
Some great games, including two decided by walk-off HRs. Tremendous passion from fans and players.
Taipei/Korea was fun
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (93-69)
Athletics (76-86)
SP Justin Wrobleski L
0-0 .00 ERA
SP Jacob Lopez L
0-0 .00 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
LF Alex Call R
DH Kyle Tucker L
CF Andy Pages R
3B S. Espinal R
C D. Rushing L
SS A. Freeland S
2B Nick Senzel R
1B Ryan Ward L
RF Zach Ehrhard R
85° Wind 6 mph
Yay for Tucker
Sorry, I don’t see Sirota making any impact this season. He has had 2 at bats this spring and is 1-2. Siani hasn’t impressed either. Tibbs III and Erhard, that is a different story. I like De Paula, but he still needs some seasoning. He struck out with the tying runs on base just looking at three straight strikes. As for Treinen, they would not have won in 24 without his gutsy performance in game five, but he hasn’t been that guy for a while. I think the long ball will be a huge part of their game. They have six players who have hit 30 or more at one time in their careers.
Either?
Bear,
Defensively, Erdhard, Pages and Tibbs would be a hell of an OF. Decent offense too. Could you live with that from the 8th inning with a lead?
There are only two scenarios in which Sirota could play in LA this year:
1. He has a year like last year where he is hotter than blazes; AND
2. Andy Pages gets injured.
Both have to happen.
The Dodgers still have approximately 65 players remaining in Major League camp.
I think a few cuts are coming.
Jack Harris
@ByJackHarris
Dave Roberts said Blake Snell has been making progress in his throwing progression (which, for now, has still been limited to flat-ground sessions)
But he acknowledged that, given the calendar, it’s gonna be “hard” for him to be ready for opening day
“Dodgers utilityman Tommy Edman took light batting practice yesterday, per Fabian Ardaya of the Athletic. He could face higher velocity off a machine in a few days if he continues to progress, but he is still weeks away from being fully ramped up. Edman underwent surgery in November to address an ankle issue that plagued him all season. Manager Dave Roberts confirmed a couple of weeks ago that Edman would begin the year on the injured list. This news won’t move up his return, though in any case, the team wants Edman at full strength. He is entering the second year of his five-year, $74MM contract. He posted an 81 wRC+ in 97 games in 2025, showing a drop in power while also striking out slightly less than in 2024”.
The 5 year contract with Edman will hopefully not turn out like Chris Taylor’s 5 year contract.
Two rings–it’s kinda hard to complain
Alex Call is quietly having a nice camp, as is Nick Senzel. Along with Santiago Espinal, there are teams that could request their talent.
Espinal’s BA dropped .125 points today.
I notice that Ryan Ward runs in the same place too much.
Josue DePaula has worked on his footwork and defense, and is visibly faster and better defensively than last year.
Nice. Senzel is a little bit of a forgotten man. Been playing some 2b too.
Leo DeVries was the centerpiece in the trade for Mason Miller.
Kendall George is fast.
He is not a good hitter.
He is not a good Centerfielder.
His arm is do-do.
Haha