The Los Angeles Dodgers do not have many holes in their roster and may not have to make any big additions at the trade deadline. However, there is one spot they could use an upgrade.
Left field has been somewhat of a disaster for the Dodgers this year. Lucky for the team, they have plenty of superstars to help pick up the slack. Michael Conforto is a former All-Star and signed a $17 million deal with the Dodgers in the offseason. However, he has slashed .176/.302/.308 as the team’s primary left fielder.
Teoscar Hernández and Andy Pages have been great and have their spots in the outfield secured. However, the trade deadline is inching closer, and Dave Roberts knows that time is running out for Conforto to prove he should stay in the lineup.
“It’s critical,” Roberts said of the importance of the next month for Conforto, per DodgersNation. “I think that I’ve shown my faith in him and giving him opportunities. I do, like I’ve said, think he’s trending in the right direction. But we’re going to continue to look and figure out ways we can get better as a ballclub as we do get closer to the deadline. I hope that’s not in his kind of mindset. Just continue to get better each night. But it’s important for him to continue playing well.”
The fact that Conforto has stayed in the lineup this long should speak volumes about Roberts’ faith in him. Hyeseong Kim has looked great in his limited reps and could easily be justified to start over Conforto in the outfield. However, the Dodgers do not seem to want to rush his development.
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If Conforto continues to struggle, Roberts’ comments make it clear that the Dodgers will consider trading for a replacement. The Dodgers have a chance to repeat as World Series champions, and a hole in left field will not help their cause.
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