Dodgers Face Key Roster Decision as Mookie Betts Set for Activation Monday
The Dodgers must decide between Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and Santiago Espinal as Mookie Betts returns from his rehab assignment.
LOS ANGELES, CA—The Los Angeles Dodgers head into Sunday facing a big question—and no, it’s not what they’re getting mom for Mother’s Day.
After today’s series finale against the mighty Atlanta Braves, the Dodgers are set to activate All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts, who finished his short two-game minor league rehab assignment yesterday.
With Betts’ activation imminent, the team will have to discuss who is the infielder on the outside looking, and that involves a trio of bench players, including Hyeseong Kim, Alex Freeland, and Santago Espinal.
After a Hot Spring, is Espinal’s Time in Dodger Blue Coming to a Close?
The most logical and simple solution for Los Angeles would be to cut ties with veteran utilityman Santiago Espinal, who was signed over the winter as a possible Tommy Edman replacement.
The right-handed Espinal slashed .378/.415/.644 with a 1.059 OPS across 19 Cactus League games, all by ensuring he’d make the team’s Opening Day roster.
However, so far, those numbers have not translated well to the regular season as Espinal is batting just .188 with a .438 OPS in 32 at-bats.
Espinal, 31, is all out of minor league options, meaning if the Dodgers were to have Betts replace his spot on the 26-man roster, they’d have to DFA him.
Still, the Dodgers could see value in keeping Espinal over Kim or Freeland as a way to continue giving those two everyday at-bats, which someone like Kim won’t find once Betts returns.
Will the Dodgers have to Choose Between Kim & Freeland?
Once again, the Dodgers find themselves facing the same storyline: deciding whether Hyeseong Kim or Alex Freeland should stay on the 26-man roster. Déjà vu, anyone?
In Bett’s absence, Kim has made the most of his opportunity, getting nealry all the regular starts at shortstop and flashing the leather on defense, while slashing .301/.366/.411 with a 121 wRC+ across 82 plate appearances.
The Dodgers have continued to be vocal about the benefit of giving Kim everyday at-bats to continue his growth as a Major League player transition from the KBO, and when Bett’s returns, he won’t be given that opportunity if the team also keeps Freeland on the roster.
The same reasoning applies to Freeland, who, like Kim, would benefit from everyday playing time as the Dodgers’ primary second baseman against right-handed pitching.
Freeland has not had the same results as Kim in a far larger sample size, but has improved in May, hitting .294 with a 160 wRC+ and stellar defense at second.
The Dodgers also opted to roll with Freeland out of Spring Training despite having less successful face value numbers in the box, but recent comments from Roberts, Miguel Rojas, and Chris Woodward seem to point to Kim staying past the return of Betts.
Monday Outlook?
The Dodgers will have to make a decision before the start of their three-game series versus San Frabnssico tomorrow, and I’d lean that we’ve likely seen the end of Espinal’s tenure in a Dodgers uniform.
While the Dodgers could look to option Kim or Freeland, there’s still a plan for both starters to get everyday at-bats with Kim able to play short, second, and center field while Freeland has experience in the middle infield.
Edman’s rehab timeline being pushed back to June likely also extends time for both Freeland and Kim before the team will once again have to make a roster move for their bench, but that’s a conversation for another day.