Dodgers: Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw Listed as Potential Big Players in 2020
The Dodgers have many outstanding players who rank amongst the league’s elite. The list is endless, frankly. The Dodgers have Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler out in their rotation, the reigning National League MVP roaming around the outfield, and players like Max Muncy, Justin Turner, and Corey Seager in tow. This does not include the prospective moves the Dodgers will make this off-season.
Why are the Dodgers focusing on third basemen?https://t.co/yKcGqBDAaz
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 1, 2019
According to a recent column by Will Leitch of MLB.com, first baseman and outfielder Cody Bellinger will be the Dodgers’ best player in 2020 by wins above replacement (WAR).
This proposition is not much of a stretch considering Bellinger just won the MVP award, but he could easily be displaced by a high-profile acquisition or even one of his current teammates next season. The Dodgers have enough room to work with in terms of prospect capital, depth, and financial flexibility to acquire a Bellinger-level, MVP-caliber player.
Bellinger held a .305 batting average in 2019 and while he may regress slightly, he figures to be an ultra-productive player once again next season. The balls will continue to fly off his bat and his defensive ability will still be there. We should all be expecting Belli to continue an MVP-type pace in 2020, despite the second half decline in 2019.
Where Leitch goes for comments is when he also mentioned Clayton Kershaw as having an outside shot at being the team’s best player in 2020.
“Though we wouldn’t put it past Clayton Kershaw to have a vintage year in 2020 either.”
Bold proclamation from the writer.
Who do you foresee being the Dodgers’ most productive player in 2020?
NEXT: Jerry Hairston Jr. Talks Declining Kershaw
bellinger can be that player in 2020 if he was not asked to shuffle from OF to 1B back to OF on a daily basis. That of course is on Roberts, and so Bellinger needs to be in RF and RF only unless an injury to others dictate otherwise.
Clayton Kershaw won’t even be the Dodgers best pitcher, let alone their best player!!!
Kershaw could be a huge contributor but he has to realize/learn that he’s not the Kershaw of old. His fastball is average at best, his slider is too close to the same velocity and his curveball is inconsistent. To me that means he must finally develop a change-up. He has to become much more of a pitcher than a thrower.
And he has to cut down on serving up HR’s especially at the inopportune times, like in the PS.
I foresee another tank job by Roberts and players alike
Dodger break-out players for 2020 I am guessing will be Urias, Smith and Lux. Urias to finally get a starting rotation slot and prove the hype of his past. He was rated higher than Buehler at one point before the injuries.
Lux as he tore up each level of the Minors once he settled in. He was Minor League player of the year he will bring a live bat and be a huge success and Smith as he will actually hit and make contact which will give the Dodger infield one of the most potent offenses in the league if Lux does break out. Plus Seager will finally have a winter to work on his swing instead of rehab.
An infield of Turner, Muncy, Lux, Smith and Seager will be very good offensively.