The offseason is officially underway, as the Dodgers made a move in regards to their 40-man roster on Tuesday. LA claimed Luke Williams off waivers from the Marlins.
So, who exactly is Williams and why did the Dodgers make this move?
Right off the bat, this move is interesting for various reasons. First off, the Dodgers added Williams to the 40-man roster, which is going to be a topic of discussion this offseason. With a number of free agents and prospects that will likely have to be added, 40-man spots were expected to be thin. So, the Dodgers just used a spot on player that isn’t really a household name.
Well, they must think pretty highly of him.
Williams, 26, appeared in 79 games with the Giants and Marlins last season. He posted a slash line of .236/.287/.315/.602. Williams hit one home run, five doubles and drove in six runs. He also stole 11 bases.
Although he didn’t produce at the plate, Williams provides versatility in the field, something the Dodgers clearly covet. In 2022, he spent time playing left field, third base and second base. Throughout his big-league career, Williams has played every position, aside from pitcher and catcher.
The Dodgers have shown over the years that they value defensive versatility and will prioritize that over a struggling bat. If Williams is able to play all over the field, it’ll be a significant boost to him and the club.
Still, this move seems a little odd by the Dodgers. Like I mentioned earlier, 40-man roster spots are going to be valuable this season. Seems perplexing to use one on a 26-year-old who has a career OPS+ of 72.
Maybe Williams can turn things around at the plate and prove to be yet another genius signing by the front office. They know more about baseball than I do!
