Glenn Coleman
Dec 06, 2023 - 01:05

Mookie Betts Playing Second Base: Impact on Dodgers' Top Prospects Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch

Dodgers move Betts to second base, raising questions about prospects Vargas and Busch's future with the team. Possible trade bait?

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts caught everyone's attention on Monday with the announcement that Mookie Betts would be making a permanent move to second base. This decision has significant implications for the team's offseason plans. However, amidst all the buzz, the future of the Dodgers' top prospects, Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch, seems to have been somewhat overlooked.

Last season, the Dodgers embraced a "youth movement" approach, giving several rookies, including Miguel Vargas, the opportunity to showcase their talents. Unfortunately, Vargas struggled at the plate, hitting just .195/.305/.672 in the first half of the year, which ultimately led to his demotion to AAA.

It's worth noting that Vargas suffered a broken finger early in spring training, which likely impacted his performance during the season. The way a team treats a prospect often reflects their evaluation of the player, and this holds true for Michael Busch.

Despite his impressive performance at the AAA level, hitting 27 home runs with a 1.049 OPS, Busch only appeared in 27 games with the Dodgers last year. His limited playing time and lack of consistent at-bats may have contributed to his struggles at the plate.

With the announcement of Betts' move to second base, the future of Vargas and Busch with the Dodgers is uncertain. The team's infield positions are already filled, and both players may need to familiarize themselves with the corner outfield to increase their chances of playing time.

Both Vargas and Busch possess valuable hitting abilities, making them attractive trade assets. They could potentially be included in a trade package to acquire high-level major-league talent, such as starting pitchers Dylan Cease, Tyler Glasnow, or Corbin Burnes.

While Vargas and Busch have the potential to be everyday players, it remains to be seen whether they will have that opportunity with the Dodgers or if they will be traded to another team.