Dodgers smart to add one of MLB’s best defensive shortstops
David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
The Los Angeles Dodgers are signing a former National League rival, twice over:Â
Nick Ahmed is at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers have signed him, a source said.
Miguel Rojas to the IL.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) July 24, 2024There are two elements to note as far as the team’s signing of Nick Ahmed. The first is the player himself.Â
Ahmed has been around the NL West a while. He was a staple at shortstop for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2014 until last year, when he was supplanted at the six by Geraldo Perdomo. He was designated for assignment and subsequently released.Â
He landed in San Francisco this winter by way of a minor league deal. Infield injuries saw him added to the active roster, but he was DFA’d earlier this month as the team hopes to install younger talent onto their infield.Â
In each instance, it was Ahmed’s shortcomings as a hitter that led to his ousting. He has a career wRC+ of 73, indicating a well-below-average offensive performer. He’s hit only .234 for his career. Ahmed does, at least, offer decent performance against left-handed pitching. He’s at a 94 wRC+ there for his career.Â
But what Ahmed lacks in the bat he compensates for in the field. Metrics love him. He’s never posted a Fielding Run Value or Outs Above Average below the average threshold of ‘0’ while he’s posted a Defensive Runs Saved of 79 for his career.Â
That’ll be the important component as we arrive at the second side of this discussion: the Miguel Rojas injury.
Rojas has filled in well for the Dodgers in the absence of Mookie Betts. Never an upper tier hitter, he’s turned in some of his best offensive production while also providing above average defense at short. Rojas left Sunday’s game against Boston with forearm stiffness. It was considered minor, so it’s possible he could return on August 1st. His IL placement is retroactive to Monday.
Ahmed isn’t a long-term solution for this team. But as essential as shortstop defense is, he’ll at least provide some stability there as the roster gets healthy. In the meantime, the trade deadline is approaching & Gavin Lux is hitting. So while the Dodgers likely won’t get an offensive boost with this addition, they’ll at least have the potential for it to come from elsewhere in their pursuit of secondary options on offense.
Author(s)
