2016 Dodgers Infield

[Villain]

Yes, it's super early. Yes, it's still fun to have these kinds of conversations, especially since things have changed so much.

1B - Barring an injury, this is Adrian Gonzalez. Duh.

2B - ????

SS - ????

3B - ????

Internal Candidates (positions listed in order of likeliest infield position)

Jose Peraza - 2B, SS
Corey Seager - SS, 3B
Justin Turner - 3B, 1B, 2B*
Kike Hernandez - 2B, SS, 3B
Chase Utley - 2B, 3B***
Ronald Torreyes - SS
Alex Guerrero - 3B
Erisbel Arruebarrena - SS
Austin Barnes - 2B (LOL, yeah right)

*Remember, Turner started his LA career in 2B platoon with Dee Gordon)
**Dodgers technically have an option to pick him up this offseason, though it seems unlikely for them to exercise it. Who knows?
***Jury is still out on Utley at 3B - I'll believe it when I see it. Maybe an offseason to work on it will make it possible.

The Free Agents (copy&pasted from MLBTR)

Second Basemen

Mike Aviles (35)
Emilio Bonifacio (31)
Asdrubal Cabrera (30)
Stephen Drew (33)
Jonathan Herrera (31)
Maicer Izturis (35) – $3MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Kelly Johnson (34)
Howie Kendrick (32)
Daniel Murphy (31)
Steve Pearce (33)
Cliff Pennington (32)
Sean Rodriguez (31)
Skip Schumaker (36) – $2.5MM club option with a $250K buyout
Chase Utley (37) – $15MM vesting option with a $2MM buyout
Ben Zobrist (35)

Shortstops

Joaquin Arias (31)
Mike Aviles (35)
Willie Bloomquist (38)
Asdrubal Cabrera (30)
Ian Desmond (30)
Stephen Drew (33)
Alcides Escobar (29) – $5.25MM club option with a $500K buyout
Cliff Pennington (32)
Alexei Ramirez (34) – $10MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Jimmy Rollins (37)
Brendan Ryan (34) – $1MM player option

Third Basemen

Mike Aviles (35)
Gordon Beckham (29)
David Freese (33)
Maicer Izturis (35) – $3MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Casey McGehee (32)
Aramis Ramirez (38)
Juan Uribe (37)

I bolded the names that seem the most interesting to me.

 

[LASports96]

1B - Gonzalez
2B - Kendrick (I'm ok I guess if they roll with Peraza. I like the kid. It's risky though.)
SS - Seager
3B - Turner

 

[LASports96]

Maybe even Utley is an option to come back?

 

[OutlawImmortal]

1B - Gonzalez
2B - Kendrick (I'm ok I guess if they roll with Peraza. I like the kid. It's risky though.)
SS - Seager
3B - Turner

My thoughts exactly. It'd be great if Utley could play 3rd, I'd move Turner over to 2nd. Turner seems to be at his best defensively at 2nd base, although he hasn't been too shabby at all at 3rd this year.

Turner's earned his chance to be a starter this year, he proved he wasn't another Luis Cruz 1-and-done.

 

[LASports96]

Turner is way better defensively at 3B. They have to keep him at 3B.

 

[Villain]

Maybe even Utley is an option to come back?

If I'm GM, I leave it up to Utley. I tell him that we'll pick up his option if he agrees to a part-time role. If he wants to be the everyday guy, this isn't going to be the place. He'll also have to be willing to step aside completely if Peraza or whoever comes up and rakes. If Utley buys into that, I agree to pick up that (overpriced) option.

Turner is way better defensively at 3B. They have to keep him at 3B.

Put in me in the camp that sees Turner better in a part-time role. Call it a "most-of-the-time" role. I just can't bring myself to see him as some linchpin out there at third. I love the guy, he's one of my favorite players on the roster, but I love him the most if he's doing a little of this and a little of that.

I'd like to see a more fluid and dynamic infield. The rotation might look like:

1B Gonzalez (duh)
2B Peraza/Utley/Hernandez
SS Seager/Peraza/Hernadez
3B Turner/Seager

I love Howie, but not so much that I want to buy his 30s. I think he walks and that another team gives him 3-4 years.

I like the idea that Turner might only start 4-5 games in a given week (depending on matchups). If he's out (and available as an awesome pinch hitter), Seager moves over to 3B while Peraza or Kike go to SS. I am a big fan of the idea that those young guys would mix and match around the infield and do so effectively. Kike, Peraza, and Seager are all considered at least above average if not elite defensive infielders (Peraza being the true slick fielder of the bunch).

The flexibility that Peraza and Kike bring is one of my favorite aspects of this roster. There are so many possibilities.