The Dodgers had a chance to make September feel a little bigger, a little bolder. Instead, they went with the safer play.
Los Angeles reportedly used one of its two newly opened roster spots to bring back Alex Freeland, even though the more tempting path was sitting right there with a left-handed bat. Dave Roberts hinted Sunday night, after the Dodgers’ series win over the Detroit Tigers, that he expected the call-up to be a lefty. Then Jack Harris of the California Post reported Monday that No. 7 prospect James Tibbs III, a lefty, would “ get the most serious consideration.”
That set the stage for a more exciting possibility: Tibbs, No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula, or another outfielder who could help against a struggling Teoscar Hernández. But the Dodgers went a different direction and added an infielder instead. According to Harris, Freeland’s arrival gives Los Angeles another way to use Tommy Edman in the outfield more often.
That could eventually lead to a roundabout solution with Hernández if the Dodgers decide to platoon him and Edman. More likely, though, Edman will simply see more time in center field on some days while Hernández stays in the lineup. It’s the kind of move the Dodgers love making - practical, tidy, and not exactly thrilling.
There is logic behind it. The Dodgers have a long track record of taking their time with even their best prospects, and roster space has a way of forcing their hand.
They do not usually rush a young player just because an opening appears. Dalton Rushing was the latest reminder of that.
When the Dodgers do make a move, they usually prefer the comfort of what they already know.
Freeland also hasn’t exactly forced the issue. Since being sent back down in late July, he has hit .248 with a .697 OPS in August. That is not much better than fellow left-handed option Hyseong Kim, who is at .245/.653 this month, and it falls well short of Tibbs’ .326/1.023 line.
So the question becomes obvious: what are the Dodgers waiting for with Tibbs?
There is no clear answer from the source material. Maybe Los Angeles is being careful because it wants Tibbs to remain a trade chip in the offseason, and a rough major league cameo would hurt that value. Maybe the club simply wanted to avoid the extra work of a 40-man roster move.
Whatever the reason, the choice is unlikely to land well with fans. The Dodgers’ offense is still on thin ice, and Tibbs would have brought more buzz than another look at Freeland in what amounts to a Quad-A stint.
In Other News...
Dodgers Roster Shakeup Just Squeezed Out One Veteran Role Player
The Dodgers latest roster move brought some needed depth back into the mix, with catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and left-hander Justin Wrobleski all coming off the injured list. Los Angeles also recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A, giving the club another versatile piece as it juggles the back end of the roster.
To clear space, the Dodgers designated catcher Ben Rortvedt for assignment, a reminder of how quickly the margins can tighten when injured players return at once. Outfielder Alek Thomas was sent to Triple-A as part of the same reshuffle, while top prospect James Tibbs III stays put there for now as the organization continues to sort out its next wave of options. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Catching Shakeup Begins As Will Smith Finally Returns
Will Smith is back on the active roster, and the Dodgers used a busy roster day to make room for him. Los Angeles activated Smith along with Dalton Rushing and Justin Wrobleski from the injured list, recalled infielder Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned center fielder Alek Thomas, a flurry of moves that reflects just how much the club has had to juggle as it gets healthier.
The biggest shift came behind the plate, where Ben Rortvedt was designated for assignment to clear space for Smith after the catcher spent time on the 60-day injured list with neck inflammation. With Smith returning to the mix and Rushing also back, the Dodgers now have a different look at catcher, and the next question is how they sort out the playing time and depth chart from here. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans May Get To Enjoy Arizonas Clubhouse Mess Even More
Ketel Martes latest absence before an Arizona Diamondbacks game in Boston last month added another twist to a season that has already featured more than a little clubhouse tension. Marte did return, spoke with reporters and teammates, and brushed off the idea that he needed to explain himself to fans who booed him, but the episode only kept the spotlight on a situation the Diamondbacks have been trying to contain while staying in the playoff race.
For Dodgers fans, the intrigue is obvious because Arizona is still close enough to a postseason spot that every bit of internal friction matters. The Diamondbacks appear to be handling Marte carefully to keep him on the field through the final month of the regular season, but the questions around his status and how the club manages him are not going away anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]