Best Dodgers lineup ever? Five ways Freddie Freeman improves an already loaded team

Nicely earlier than the signing was official, Dodgers gamers couldn’t assist however be mesmerized by the chance.

Requested over the previous week what the signing of former most respected participant Freddie Freeman as a free agent would add to the staff, they voiced nearly common pleasure.

“We’d be extraordinarily harmful with him,” stated Max Muncy.

Echoed Trea Turner: “I feel he could be an enormous, large pickup for us from many, many standpoints.”

Clayton Kershaw couldn’t resist the thought both: “I really feel like we’ve got an actual likelihood to win with the blokes on this clubhouse. With that stated, Freddie’s a very good baseball participant.”

The Dodgers will quickly uncover simply how good they will certainly be with Freeman on the coronary heart of their lineup, after the staff agreed to phrases with the previous Atlanta Braves star on a six-year, $162-million contract, in line with folks with data of the state of affairs.

The transfer comes with dangers: The Dodgers’ projected luxurious tax payroll is now as much as nearly $279.5 million, in line with Cot’s Baseball Contracts (that features all of Trevor Bauer’s $34-million wage this yr, which may very well be decreased if he’s suspended), properly previous the third tax threshold and simply $10 million shy of a fourth degree that may set off a brand new 80% penalty.

A staff that when was cautious of awarding long-term contracts now has two huge ones on the books, with Freeman locked up by means of his age-37 season and Mookie Betts by means of his age-39 marketing campaign.

Nonetheless, the blockbuster addition may show to be worthwhile. One of many few holes on the staff — a left-handed slugger to interchange the departed Corey Seager — has been stuffed. And in the event that they weren’t already, the Dodgers’ lineup is now arguably the largest juggernaut within the league and on paper has the possibility to be certainly one of their finest ever.

That’s the form of firepower Freeman has the potential to carry. Listed below are 5 methods he could make it occur and assist enhance an already stacked staff:

Constant manufacturing

Freeman hasn’t simply been among the best gamers in baseball over the past decade. He’s been as constant as nearly any famous person, too.

He’s a lifetime .295 hitter who has been finest within the second half of his profession, posting a batting common of .300 or higher in 5 of the previous six seasons. His on-base-plus-slugging percentages have solely dipped under .900 twice throughout that point, too.

He’s been sturdy, taking part in at the least 117 video games in each full season of his profession and lacking simply seven over the past 4 campaigns mixed.

His protection has additionally remained dependable, with Freeman recording an above-average mark within the defensive runs saved analytic in all however three seasons.

He hasn’t proven many indicators of slowing down, both. Final yr he hit greater than 30 residence runs for the third time whereas additionally posting the second-lowest strikeout share of his profession (trailing solely the pandemic-shortened 2020 season).

Another piece of proof: OPS+, an all-encompassing superior metric through which Freeman has been rated as at the least 30% higher than the league common on the plate yearly since 2013.

Left-handed steadiness

Earlier than buying Freeman, the Dodgers’ finest left-handed hitters had been Muncy (coming off a major elbow harm), Cody Bellinger (coming off a career-worst yr) and nonetheless unproven Gavin Lux.

It was a possible weak spot, particularly in a Nationwide League dominated largely by powerful right-handers reminiscent of Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Chris Bassitt in New York, Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove in San Diego, Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff in Milwaukee, and Logan Webb in San Francisco — all of whom are potential playoff foes.

Freeman’s addition addresses that gap, successfully changing Seager. In his profession, Freeman has hit over .300 in opposition to right-handed pitchers with a .941 OPS (whereas nonetheless additionally posting first rate marks of .266 and .784, respectively, in opposition to left-handers).

Lineup flexibility

With Freeman seemingly locking down first base, the Dodgers now have model new mixtures for using the remainder of their lineup.

Muncy can be freed as much as play second base or function the designated hitter. Chris Taylor may also proceed in his efficient utility position, taking part in nearly any place within the infield or outfield. Lux will be saved for extra favorable matchups, too, when the Dodgers wish to subject a left-handed heavy lineup.

Freeman additionally provides insurance coverage in opposition to accidents, giving the staff one other main weapon to depend on if others go down round him.

And after they’re all wholesome, a possible lineup may appear like this: Betts, Freeman, Trea Turner, Muncy, Will Smith, Justin Turner, Bellinger, AJ Pollock, Taylor.

Playoff expertise

In 42 profession postseason video games, Freeman has proved himself a clutch October performer. Total, he has hit .290 within the playoffs with 9 residence runs and 20 RBIs. He’s coming off certainly one of his finest single postseasons, too, when he hit .304 and slugged .625 in the course of the Braves’ title run a yr in the past.

It’s going to come as a lift for the Dodgers, whose banged-up lineup struggled with inconsistency in the course of the 2021 postseason — scorching some nights however arising empty within the clutch on others, particularly throughout their six-game loss to the Braves within the NL Championship Collection.

One other profit: The Dodgers now not must face Freeman within the playoffs. Freeman crushed L.A. pitching over his postseason profession, batting .286 with 5 residence runs and 11 RBIs over their 4 playoff conferences since 2013.

Clubhouse presence

For all Freeman supplied on the sphere, he left an indelible mark behind the scenes in Atlanta, too.

That a lot was clear following the staff’s World Collection title final October, when one teammate after one other professed pleasure at seeing Freeman attain the mountaintop after so a few years.

“He means all the pieces to this staff,” Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson stated. “No one deserves it on our staff greater than him.”

Added Braves supervisor Brian Snitker: “How he involves play day-after-day, what he does in our neighborhood, the particular person he’s, the emphasis he has on all of his teammates, me particularly. I don’t know what I’d do with out him, fairly actually.”

Now the Dodgers would be the beneficiary, including Freeman to a clubhouse that already contains veteran leaders reminiscent of Kershaw, Betts and Justin Turner — hoping it is going to develop into another approach the $162-million addition can additional tilt the scales and solidify one of the gifted lineups in staff historical past.