The reigning MLB champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, boast one of the best rosters in all of Major League Baseball, as in addition to keeping the core of the team with which they were crowned in 2024, they managed to sign several interesting players for the team in the last free agency.
The franchise’s 40-man roster is full of talent, but they no longer have room to accommodate all the players and may have to dispense with some hitters, especially those who are underperforming.
Chris Taylor has had problems with the team, and James Outman is another hitter who is going through a difficult time. The team is expected to sideline low-average hitters, and Outman is one of them
Dave Roberts has his candidate to leave the organization
Manager Dave Roberts shared an update on Outman, who is going through a tough time and his future with the team is uncertain. Outman had a decent run in 2023, but his 2024 average was a disaster. The hitter hit just four home runs in 136 at-bats and a poor average of just .147
Outman was unable to perform at his best and it seems likely that the Dodgers will keep him out during the next season
“At first, he looked very comfortable with a slightly revamped swing. But now he’s missing a lot. I don’t know if he’s under pressure. He just doesn’t seem to be comfortable,” Roberts told Dodgers Nation.
After a good offseason, it’s hard to see players like Outman taking a spot on the roster. The franchise renewed the contracts of some of last year’s World Series heroes such as Teoscar Hernandez and Kike Hernandez.
In addition, with experienced hitters such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, the chances of Outman playing are slim and he will become a difficult gamble, especially for a poor performer.
Spring training is a great opportunity for Outman to prove his worth. However, he has struggled at the plate and in 23 at-bats he recorded only four hits.
For a strong team like the Dodgers, Outman does not seem to have the level that the team needs, and it is a fact that his playing time with the Dodgers will be very limited.
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