Turner’s arrival could impact struggling Bellinger’s playing time more than anyone
It’s going to be a numbers game. Trea Turner has been on the COVID injured list since being removed from the Washington Nationals’ July 27 game following a positive test for the coronavirus. But indications are he will be cleared to travel to Los Angeles today and join the Dodgers soon after.
When he is activated, he will bring an impressive set of numbers to the Dodgers’ lineup. His .322 batting average this season is second in the National League. His 21 stolen bases are third in the league and only Padres shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. and Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins can match his combination of power and speed (at least 18 each in home runs and steals).
Those numbers will be a valuable addition to the Dodgers’ everyday lineup. But fitting Turner into that lineup is the latest of what manager Dave Roberts likes to call a “highclass problem.”
“This is a very intelligent, talented group of baseball players, a very unselfish group,” Roberts said. “So I
think that understanding what’s in the room — that talent — there’s going to be some give and take with all the guys. Working in off days to keep guys sharp, fresh, a strong bench where they can potentially impact the club at a different time of the game, that’s important.
“I don’t think the buy-in is going to be difficult. As a manager, I want all our guys to want to be in there every single day, every day. I get that. But in reality, that’s not the case.”
In reality, someone will be playing an unfamiliar position every day — left out.
When the trade for Turner was announced last week, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman described him as a “premier shortstop” — then used the same label for the Dodgers’ incumbent at the position, Corey Seager. Earlier this week, Roberts acknowledged that either Seager or Turner will be at shortstop every day (assuming good health for both) once Turner joins the team — closing off one possible spot for All-Star utilityman Chris Taylor in the lineup.
“Corey’s been our shortstop for many years and he’s a premier shortstop . ... Trea is right there in that same caliber,” Roberts said, echoing Friedman. “So I’m going to talk to him and kind of figure out where the best fit for him, our club is.”
Turner has also played second base at the major-league level, starting six games there in 2015 and then 25 as a rookie in 2016. Mookie Betts has started the past three games at second base and acknowledged that Turner’s arrival will signal his return to right field.
“I enjoyed my time at second base,” Betts said Wednesday night. “Now Trea is coming so I’ll be in the outfield again.”
Betts’ statement might be based on his assumption that Turner will be playing a lot of second base. If Turner does, then another avenue to get Taylor in the lineup will be minimized.
Unable to unseat Danny Espinosa as the Nationals’ primary shortstop in 2016, Turner moved to center field and started 44 games there. He had never played in the outfield as a professional before that season and ranked well below average in every defensive metric at the position. He hasn’t played there since 2016, playing shortstop exclusively in the past five seasons.
Clearly, playing Turner in center field over Taylor or Cody Bellinger now would have a negative impact on the Dodgers’ defense — already an underperforming aspect of the team this season.
“I think it’s going to be a whole group of players making sacrifices. That’s how I’ll start,” Roberts said of how Turner’s playing time will impact the rest of the Dodgers’ everyday lineup. “There are going to be days where I’m just going to use off days and workload as a way to get other guys in there.
“I think pretty much most players are going to be affected.”
Potentially, though, it could affect Bellinger most of all.
There have been indications recently that the Dodgers’ patience with the slumping Bellinger has run out. He did not start Sunday against a left-hander in Arizona,
moved to right field for two games with Betts on the infield (Taylor started in center field both days) and Roberts dropped him to eighth in the batting order Wednesday for the first time since 2018.
“I don’t think ‘patience’ is a fair word,” Roberts said. “I think right now to expect him — and part of it is the physical limitations (following shoulder surgery) and right now where he’s at — just to expect him to be a middle-ofthe-order guy and carry us on the offensive side, I think that’s not where we are right now. Do I think that we’ll get there at some point this year? Yes . ... I’m hopeful. I am.
“I think that’s ... where we’re at.”
Bellinger has gone 4 for 12 in his past three games — though three of those hits were infield singles. With just 53 games left in the regular season, his batting line for the season (.168/.267/.291) has likely reached the point of being irredeemable.
If Betts in right field is an everyday constant (given an occasional day off to deal with his assortment of physical issues), Taylor and AJ Pollock have earned the same kind of playing time based on their performance. Since the start of July, Pollock has hit .392 with a 1.163 OPS, the best sustained stretch since he joined the Dodgers in 2019. During that same time, Taylor has hit .328 with a .971 OPS, punctuating a season in which he has been one of the most consistently productive parts of the Dodgers’ lineup.
Those are numbers that leave little room for Bellinger.
“It’s about winning and we’ll put the pieces together,” Roberts said.