Winter Meetings: Ranking The Dodgers’ Offseason Needs

2. Shortstop

Prior to Hanley Ramirez signing with the Red Sox, the Dodgers were reported as pushing hard to acquire Alexei Ramirez. All of the Dodgers internal options to replace Hanley are players with strong gloves and light bats, and the group of free agents leaves plenty to be desire.

For as much as Hanley was criticized for his defensive and offensive lapses, his departure leaves a gaping hole in the Dodgers’ lineup. Despite the down year at the plate, he led all shortstops in on-base percentage (.369), slugging percentage (.448) and OPS (.817); he finished fourth with 71 RBIs and batting average (.283).

Alexi is a happy medium — an improvement with the glove while being able to hold his own at the plate. His numbers in 2014 were comparable to Hanley’s and since 2009, he’s led all American League shortstops in RBIs, hits and total bases since 2009.

If the Dodgers are to pursue a trade for Cole Hamels, it may also involve Jimmy Rollins who reportedly would be willing to waive his no-trade clause to join the team.

Rollins has played in a minimum of 138 games in each of the last four seasons and though he hit .243 in 2014, his .323 on-base percentage was his highest mark since 2011 and .394 slugging percentage was his highest since 2012. After posting a -2.7 UZR in 2013, Rollins improved to 3.6 last season.

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