The Dodgers are staring at a stretch run that still has plenty to sort out, and one of the biggest questions hanging over the roster is how they plan to juice an offense that hasn’t been reliable for much of the last few months.
Help is coming back in one place. Will Smith is expected to return after a long injury recovery, and once he’s activated as a September call-up, the Dodgers will likely have to move on from one of the other catchers to clear room.
That opens the door for another addition, and manager Dave Roberts made it clear where his mind is going. He said the club is looking for a left-handed bat.
“Certainly looking at a left-handed bat,” Roberts said. “That’s something that we could use if we’re talking about adding a player. I don’t know who the player is going to be, but that’s kind of where my head’s at.”
One name that fits the bill is outfielder James Tibbs III. He’s been tearing it up at Triple-A and has been on the radar for a big-league promotion for months.
In 124 games, Tibbs is hitting .295 with 27 home runs and 96 RBIs, and he’s carrying a .965 OPS. Scouts have taken notice of the production, and his left-handed swing would give Los Angeles another option as it tries to steady an offense that has struggled to find consistency.
The timing lines up, too. The Dodgers just lost All-Star outfielder Andy Pages for multiple weeks, and that could create an opening for Tibbs to finally get his chance. The club has also had issues from multiple established bats, including corner outfielders Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker.
If Tibbs gets the call and is put on the 40-man roster before Sept. 1, he’d be eligible for the postseason. That detail matters for a Dodgers team trying to position itself as well as possible for October.
Tibbs isn’t the only left-handed option in Triple-A, either. Ryan Ward, Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim have all already gotten MLB chances this year, and each could be brought back into the mix for the final push.
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Feliciano said he wants to build on Seidlers legacy and bring a championship to San Diego, but he also made clear he understands what comes with owning a club that shares a rivalry with the Dodgers. He even noted his connection to Dodgers owner Mark Walter, which only adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with tension, ambition and the kind of big-money ownership battle that now shadows the on-field one. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Watched A Proven Bat Land With Another Contender
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The decision fits the reality of Roberts season, which has been shaped by health issues and uneven availability even as his offensive upside remains the kind of thing contenders monitor closely. Baltimore gets the chance to see whether there is impact still to unlock, while the Dodgers are left to watch another proven bat land with a rival and wonder whether the risk was simply too steep for where they are right now. [Read more 🡒]