3 Dodgers Under Most Pressure to Perform Following Shocking Roster Move


The Los Angeles Dodgers shocked the Major League Baseball world on Wednesday as they designated their longest-tenured position player for assignment to call up their No. 1 overall prospect.

Catcher Austin Barnes, who had spent his entire 11-year MLB career with the Dodgers, was designated for assignment. Dalton Rushing, the team’s 2022 second-round pick and top prospect, has been called up.

More news: Dodgers Place Roki Sasaki on IL Adding to Growing List of Injured Pitchers

This move sent shockwaves around the baseball world, but also sent a clear message to the league — and to the team’s current crop of players: The Dodgers are only focused on winning and putting the best players on the field.

So, with that being said, Newsweek Sports wanted to take a look at three other Dodgers potentially now on the hot seat following this massive decision.

Dodgers Players
TOKYO, JAPAN – MARCH 15: Players from Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after winning the MLB Tokyo Series between Los Angeles Dodgers and Yomiuri Giants at Tokyo Dome on March 15, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.

Gene Wang/Getty Images

1. Chris Taylor

The new longest-tenured Dodgers position player, Taylor has struggled to regain his 2021 All-Star form over the last few seasons. He’s had a sub-.700 OPS in three of the last four years. He’s just 7-for-32 (.219) this season with an OPS of .500, mainly coming in as a defensive replacement.

More news: Former Yankees Pitcher Traded Away for Juan Soto Has Season-Ending Elbow Surgery

Taylor is in the last year of his four-year, $60 million deal. He has a $12 million club option for 2026 that will certainly be declined. However, if he continues to struggle — and the Dodgers feel like they could get better bench production elsewhere — it now feels more possible that they move on from him at some point this season.

2. Michael Conforto

Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million deal with the Dodgers this offseason, hoping to be this year’s version of Teoscar Hernández.

It has not worked out.

After finally breaking through with a three-hit game on Tuesday, Conforto is now hitting .172 with an OPS of .590.

Rushing is also a left-handed hitter who the Dodgers have tried out in left field, Conforto’s primary position.

The pressure is on for Conforto to start living up to his contract.

3. James Outman

The former Dodgers top prospect burst onto the scene with an impressive rookie season in 2023. He’s struggled mightily ever since.

This year, Outman is just 1-for-15 (.167) with 10 strikeouts. While Rushing won’t play center field, the Dodgers could easily move things around to ensure his bat is in the lineup over Outman’s on any given day.

More news: Yankees Castoff Making New York Regret Giving Up on Him With All-Star Caliber Season



Source link

  • Related Posts

    Report: Vikings’ JJ McCarthy Given Worse Injury Return Timeline

    By James Brizuela is a contributing sports and entertainment writer located in Los Angeles. His focus is on Comics, Comic Book Movies, Video Games, NFL, and MMA. He has in-depth…

    Bills’ Josh Allen Reacts to Injury vs. Jets: ‘Gushing Blood’

    By Aaliyan Mohammed is a Newsweek contributor based in Atlanta, GA. His focus is MLB content. Aaliyan has been with Newsweek since 2024 and previously worked at MLB.com, Wisconsin Sports…

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    You Missed

    Report: Vikings’ JJ McCarthy Given Worse Injury Return Timeline

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 0 views
    Report: Vikings’ JJ McCarthy Given Worse Injury Return Timeline

    Bills’ Josh Allen Reacts to Injury vs. Jets: ‘Gushing Blood’

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 2 views
    Bills’ Josh Allen Reacts to Injury vs. Jets: ‘Gushing Blood’

    BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Claim $150 Bonus For Monday Night Football Games

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 2 views
    BetMGM Bonus Code NW150: Claim $150 Bonus For Monday Night Football Games

    Yankees Insider Tempts Fate By Singling Out Preferred Playoff Opponent

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 1 views
    Yankees Insider Tempts Fate By Singling Out Preferred Playoff Opponent

    Grandmother Who Has Spent 33 Years in US Detained by ICE, Faces Deportation

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 2 views
    Grandmother Who Has Spent 33 Years in US Detained by ICE, Faces Deportation

    Trump Attacks Hochul Over New York Mamdani Endorsement

    • By John
    • September 15, 2025
    • 3 views
    Trump Attacks Hochul Over New York Mamdani Endorsement