![]() “I’m going to be prepared to play wherever. “I don’t know,” Taylor said Saturday when asked what position he might play this season. ![]() Then again, Taylor has played just about everywhere in his seven seasons in Los Angeles, with over 100 starts at each of left field, center, shortstop, and second base. Taylor only started nine games in centerfield last season but has played there regularly off and on, including 48 starts at the position in 2021. “We’re trying to clean up some things with the bat, but he can really defend,” Roberts said of Zimmer. Zimmer had just 13 hits in 105 at-bats with 45 strikeouts last season, but was good enough defensively to play 109 games, even without batting in 57 of them. Heyward and Zimmer are non-roster invitees, the former an established veteran coming off two injury-plagued seasons and the latter is the best defensive outfielder of the group but with a career 73 wRC+. Outman made his major league debut with a four-game supernova last year, and will likely get an extended stay this year, even if he’s not on the opening day roster. Thompson started all four games of last year’s Division Series, including the last two in center. They are trying to fill the shoes of Cody Bellinger, who started 135 games in center in 2022, five out of every six, before getting non-tendered in November. Roberts did mention five players who are “in the mix” for playing centerfield in Los Angeles - Chris Taylor, Trayce Thompson, Jason Heyward, James Outman, and Bradley Zimmer. “Your guys’ guess is as good as mine,” Roberts said at FanFest Saturday. Manager Dave Roberts doesn’t yet know either. Centerfield is one of the positions open for competition, and if you aren’t sure who might get regular playing time there, you aren’t alone. ![]() LOS ANGELES - Trying to guess the Dodgers opening day roster is a challenge in itself, before even considering where everyone might play around the diamond. ![]()
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