The Los Angeles Dodgers had to face similar concerns after the 2021 season and the 2022 season. With each of the team’s starting shortstops earning free agency status in turn, they had to decide whether to catch them or not.
Corey Seager (29‧ Texas) 메이저사이트was a player who could grow as a franchise star for the Dodgers. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the first round, debuted in the major leagues in 2015, and built a successful career just like his reputation. He was an offensive shortstop with a batting average of 0.297, 104 home runs, 364 runs batted in, and an OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 0.870 in 636 games for 7 years with the Dodgers.
However, the Dodgers did not offer Seager a contract extension after much consideration and did not catch him in the free agent market. Afterwards, Seager signed a contract with Texas, which began to open his wallet again, for a total of 325 million dollars (approximately 436.2 billion won) over 10 years. The Dodgers had another All-Star shortstop, Trey Turner (30, Philadelphia), acquired in a trade during the 2021 season. There was no need to forcefully follow the Siger recruiting battle.
But Turner was different. It was the key to recording a batting average of 0.307, 31 homers, 264 hits, and 38 stolen bases in 212 games after the transfer. This time, the player standing behind was also not suitable. He had Gavin Lux in mind, but it wasn’t enough to fill Turner’s void. However, the Dodgers sent Turner as well. Turner later said frankly that “there was no offer from the Dodgers.” That’s how the 11-year, $300 million (approximately 402.6 billion won) contract with Philadelphia was born.
The Dodgers are also struggling. This is because Lux injured his knee during an exhibition game and was out for the season. He is blocking the shortstop position with several players. However, Seager and Turner, who left the team, also did not perform well. If the Dodgers caught them, it is likely that there will be controversy related to the contract.
Seager saved face by hitting 33 homers in 151 games last year. However, his batting average dropped to 0.245, and his OPS also remained at 0.772. The figure is a little short of the name value of the $325 million man. It was expected that he would benefit the most from the shift ban this season, but he could not play for at least a month due to a hamstring rupture. Seager has been a player with a lot of injuries so far.
Turner is underperforming. He’s still a hasty judge, but he’s batting 0.260 with 2 homers, 7 RBIs and 4 stolen bases in 30 games. His adjusted OPS is 83, which is 17% below league average. Turner is an excellent athlete, but his athletic ability tends to decline with age. Now, the concern is Philadelphia, which gave Turner an 11-year contract.
The Dodgers are holding out with temporary measures, such as using Mookie Betts as a shortstop. But with no $300 million spent on Seager or Turner, the team’s payroll was vacant. And that money can be invested in Shohei Ohtani (29‧LA Angels), who will qualify as a free agent after this season.
Ohtani is not a player you can recruit just because you want to recruit him. The dominant view is that contracts worth more than $500 million in total are already certain. You have to have money, and you have to have a certain amount of team salary to be free from the nightmare of the luxury tax (wealth tax). The Dodgers met this condition once. Right now, the time without Ciger or Turner is painful, but if you endure this period well, the sweet fruit of Ohtani recruitment may return. And the Dodgers are leading the National League West this year as well.
