Notes: Mookie at SS, trade options, relievers in new homes

Yesterday at 09:20 AM

With a full offseason to prepare, Mookie Betts has been working on his defense at shortstop.

For the second year in a row come opening day, Mookie Betts will be the Dodgers' primary shortstop. There wasn't much to desire during the 2024 season, where Betts posted below-average defensive metrics for a position that he had totaled just 15 games at in his big league career prior to last year.

Now with a full offseason to prepare, Betts has been putting in the work to improve his defense at shortstop. Betts was recently practicing at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth running drills at shortstop, per the account Selfmadeathletix on TikTok.

Betts will have to convince the Dodgers front office that he'll stick at the position this time around, but he's always maintained a level of confidence in his abilities at shortstop, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com:

"I 100 percent believe in my abilities. I believe I can [play shortstop]. I think it's the challenge that I really, truly loved," Betts said in August. "I just haven't been challenged in a long time. So that task, that challenge to accept and be able to play shortstop in the big leagues, and help the Dodgers? I was going to take it on, and I'm happy I did. I'm definitely proud of myself for doing that."

Links

Sonja Chen of MLB.com lists a trio of trade candidates the Dodgers could look at moving on from after dealing away Gavin Lux. Chen named Chris Taylor, James Outman, and Miguel Rojas as potential options to be put on the trading block.

Both Rojas and Taylor will reach free agency after the 2025 season, although Taylor carries an option for the 2026 season, while Outman still has four years of team control.

A couple former Dodgers relievers have found new homes for this upcoming season.

Connor Brogdon is staying in Southern California, this time signing with the Los Angeles Angels on a minor league deal. Taylor Blake Ward of Baseball America was the first to report the signing.

Brogdon pitched just a single inning for the Dodgers in 2024 before landing on the injured list and missing the rest of the season due to plantar fasciitis.

Chris Martin, who pitched in 26 games for the Dodgers in 2022, has signed with the Texas Rangers on a one-year deal, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Martin spent the past two seasons with the Boston Red Sox, posting a 2.16 ERA in 100 games and surprisingly finished twelfth in American League Cy Young voting in 2023.