LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers have found a way to address their infield depth, and that takes a familiar face.
Los Angeles acquired shortstop Miguel Rojas from the Marlins in exchange for minor league infielder Jacob Amaya, the club announced Wednesday.
Rojas, who turns 34 on February 24, is entering the final season of a two-year $10 million extension, owing him $5 million in 2023. In Rojas, the Dodgers get an elite defensive shortstop who’s a two-time Gold Glove finalist — including last season when he ranked above average in the 98th outs percentile according to Statcast — as well as a respected clubhouse leader.
Additionally, they’re reuniting with someone who cemented his place in Dodgers history as a rookie in 2014. During the seventh inning of Clayton Kershaw’s no-hit bid on June 18, 2014, Rojas made an excellent pick and throw on third base to keep the effort going and let the ace finish the job.
It’s this glove work that Rojas was best known for in the eight years he spent with the Marlins, having played there in December 2014 with Dee Strange-Gordon and Dan Haren against Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney and Kiké Hernández had been traded. Though he’s been Miami’s main shortstop for much of that span, he’s also seen time at all three other infield positions.
On the offensive side, Rojas has cut .265/.318/.366 during his time with the Marlins, posting career lows in nearly every offensive category in 2022. However, he spent most of the second half of the season playing with a right wrist injury and eventually underwent a debridement of his right wrist in October to remove the cartilage.
After the Dodgers missed out on the big-name free-agent shortstops in the market this offseason, it seemed Gavin Lux would get the majority of reps there in 2023. That may still be the case, but at least Rojas is giving them some flexibility. Also, Rojas punches with his right hand while Lux punches with his left.
Amaya, considered a plus defender at shortstops with impressive plate discipline, is expected to make his major league debut in the 2023 season. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2017 draft. Amaya was on the Dodgers’ 40-man list, so Rojas doesn’t need an extra move.