Dodgers News: Los Angeles Has Sixth Best Outfield
FanGraphs is a fan of the Dodgers. It projects a 95-win 2017 campaign – good for a tie at the top of the National League and a seven-game cushion in the West. It also projects the Dodgers have one of the best outfields in the Majors.
The Dodgers have the sixth best outfield WAR, and fourth best in the NL, according to FanGraphs.
The Angels are far and away No. 1, almost exclusively because Mike Trout is generational. Miami boasts an impressive outfield when healthy: Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich, Marcell Ozuna and Ichiro Suzuki. If Miami can piece together a pitching staff, it could be playing meaningful games in September.
Boston and Pittsburgh are both impressive on paper. The Red Sox’s outfield is led by MVP runner-up Mookie Betts, while the Pirates have a lightning fast group highlighted by Andrew McCutchen, who has plenty of motivation to rebound in 2017. The same can be said for Bryce Harper, who is joined by Adam Eaton in an impressive Washington outfield.
Los Angeles has one spot secured in its outfield: Joc Pederson in center. The WAR projects an outstanding group effort from Yasiel Puig, Andre Ethier, Andrew Toles, Scott Van Slyke and Trayce Thompson.
L.A. has jammed OF. Joc Pederson, Andrew Toles, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Trayce Thompson, SVS. Interested to see how Roberts handles it.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) December 20, 2016
The outfield consists of solid, but flawed players. L.A. will have the ability to play any matchup, which likely contributed to the high ranking.
Offseason projections are often meaningless, though FanGraphs is one of the better sources. If 2017 plays out the way it’s been predicting, the Dodgers will be one of the World Series favorites again.
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