Earlier this week, the Dodgers made historical past by signing catcher Will Smith to the longest contract ever for a participant drafted by the group — 10 years, $140 million. Now that he’s more likely to retire a Dodger, this contract has implications for a number of key members of the crew’s farm system.
A fast notice about this extension: almost definitely, Smith won’t play catcher for an excellent portion of this deal. Chances are high the Dodgers will transfer Smith to a nook infield place as he ages, to raised defend his physique.
Pretty much as good because the Dodgers are at growing pitchers, they could be even higher at growing catchers. In 2019, prospect Keibert Ruiz co-headlined the commerce for Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. Simply two years in the past, Diego Cartaya was the highest-ranked prospect within the farm system at simply 21 years previous. This 12 months, the crew’s No. 1 prospect is one other catcher — Dalton Speeding.
All of that is to say the Dodgers are loaded with catching expertise, however now have somebody actually blocking taking part in time for the foreseeable future. With Smith locked up, the Dodgers open the door for buying and selling a few of that expertise.
The Future for the Dodgers at Catcher
Cartaya might see himself included in a commerce package deal. Whereas he has the very best ceiling of all of the prospects, he simply won’t get the taking part in time he wants in Los Angeles. The Dodgers might leverage this excessive ceiling to land a high-level major-league participant.
For what it’s value, Cartaya informed Dodgers Nation final 12 months that he could be open to a place change. He made it clear he simply needs to do what he can to earn taking part in time.
The Dodgers drafted Speeding again in 2022 and he has mashed his means via the minor leagues. At 23 years previous, he nonetheless wants extra seasoning however might actually again up Smith in just a few years.
Sure, Speeding is older than Cartaya. Nevertheless, Cartaya is extra major-league-ready and can should be on a major-league roster sooner. This timeline doesn’t align with the Smith extension, making Cartaya extra more likely to be traded.
Then there’s 20-year-old Thayron Liranzao, who could possibly be the Dodgers’ on a regular basis catcher after they transfer Smith off the place. A switch-hitting catcher, the Dodgers signed Liranzo from the Dominican Republic again in 2021 and he now ranks tenth within the group in accordance with MLB.com.
Throughout his time within the minor leagues, his hitting has improved yearly headlined by a .962 OPS in Single-A. By the point he’s able to be known as as much as the Dodgers, they could possibly be prepared to maneuver Smith to both third base or first base.
One notice on Liranzo: the Dodgers have tried taking part in him at first base this season, clearly wanting forward with the younger prospect.
The Dodgers preach flexibility and “optionality,” and so they have performed that with the catching place. No matter they want, and each time they want it, they’ve somebody ready within the wings for the chance.
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