Predicting Los Angeles Dodgers' 2016 Record Going Into Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers had one of the most interesting offseasons this year. Faced with the defection of co-ace Zack Greinke, the Dodgers had to come up with a way to stay ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the monster NL West. They worked on the fringe of most major moves, but somehow came out ahead in the process.

The biggest trade of the offseason for the Dodgers was to trade top prospect Jose Peraza and extra outfield prospect Scott Schebler to the Cincinnati Reds as the third team in the Todd Frazier deal. In free agency they signed Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda to replace Greinke. Brett Anderson also accepted the qualifying offer, so the rotation is in good shape with Clayton Kershaw still starting every fifth day. Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman were added to the bullpen, but they should both be used as low-leverage, multiple-inning relievers, if all goes as planned.

The outfield is still the same mess as it has been for a few years. Yasiel Puig is in right and Joc Pederson in center. That leaves Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier, and Scott Van Slyke to play left. The Dodgers have unsuccessfully attempted to trade Crawford and Ethier for over a year. With his high strikeout totals there will be pressure for Pederson to move down in the batting order. That would leave Puig to bat leadoff and it is not clear if that is a good idea.

The infield is mostly set. Jimmy Rollins moved on allowing uber prospect Corey Seager to take over at short. Justin Turner is penciled in at third, but with Howie Kendrick re-signed the Dodgers have a backup plan. If Turner doesn’t work out, however, the Dodgers will be forced to play Chase Utley everyday at second or call up recently acquired Micah Johnson before his time.

With an overloaded rotation and outfield the Dodgers are ready to win big again in 2016. The loss of Greinke would have cost them about four wins, but the additions of Maeda, Kazmir and Seager swing things back in the other direction. In the end, the Dodgers will repeat as division champions with a record of 95-67.