Shohei Ohtani’s health management, a middle-infield vacancy, and struggles with situational hitting form the three primary avenues for the Los Angeles Dodgers to upgrade their offense heading into the 2027 season, MLB reported.
- The Dodgers’ search for an everyday second baseman shifts attention toward prospect Charles Davalan’s development and potential offseason acquisitions.
Shohei Ohtani remains the linchpin of the Dodgers lineup, but the team’s offense suffered when his left knee and right biceps injuries became public in early July. Ohtani’s production held steady until August, which marked the only calendar month where the Dodgers recorded a losing record at 13-14, before an IL stint in September kept him quiet until a late breakout in Game 4 of the NLCS, MLB reported.
Los Angeles endured the lowest offensive production from second basemen across the majors last season, posting a .676 OPS that lagged behind the rest of the league.
Internal depth options like Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim have yet to secure everyday roles in the big leagues. Meanwhile, No. 79 prospect Charles Davalan gained valuable experience at the position in the Arizona Fall League, leaving general manager Brandon Gomes to weigh external free-agent and trade markets to bridge the gap.
Slug alone failed to carry the Dodgers through the end of their postseason run, where the club went 5-for-43 with runners in scoring position. While regular-season metrics showed a .779 OPS in those spots, the team struggled with a .710 OPS with the bases loaded—ranking 22nd in the majors—alongside 128 grounded into double plays, MLB reported.
To overhaul this approach, the franchise parted ways with Aaron Bates and brought in Pedro Guerrero as a hitting coach. Brandon Gomes described Guerrero as approach-focused during the GM Meetings, aiming to mitigate situational woes.
| Offensive Category | Dodgers Metric | League Context / Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Second Baseman OPS | .676 | Lowest in the majors by a wide margin |
| Bases Loaded OPS | .710 | 22nd in the majors |
| Postseason RISP | 5-for-43 | Defining issue at the end of the season |
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