Alex Freeland Back With Dodgers Due To ‘Familiarity’

As part of their September roster moves, the Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Alex Freeland from Triple-A Oklahoma City despite speculation they would add one of their top outfield prospects.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously indicated the club would consider calling up an option to platoon in left field with Teoscar Hernández. Indications pointed to James Tibbs III being the likely candidate.

Given the offense’s struggles over the last two months, and specifically from Hernández, that move would have made sense as a potential way to boost the lineup.

Instead, the Dodgers plan for Freeland to get significant playing time at second base while Tommy Edman sees more reps in center field with Alek Thomas no longer on the roster.

“With Freeland, he’s back now, and he’ll play second base versus some right-handers,” Roberts said. “And for me, also, just kind of figuring out a way to mix in some other guys. But I would say, for the time being, I can see him playing a good bit versus right.”

Freeland did not perform well in his first two opportunities with the Dodgers this season. He hit just .231/.309/.313 with three home runs, 24 runs scored, 19 RBI and a 77 wRC+ in 72 games over separate stints.

The 25-year-old also hasn’t shown much more at Triple-A, batting .259/.357/.430 with five home runs, 26 RBI, and 26 runs scored with a 102 wRC+ in the extremely hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Despite his lack of production, Roberts said the Dodgers called up Freeland due to his experience at the Major League level.

“We like Alex,” Roberts began. “He’s a good defender, he’s performing fine, and I think that it was just more of familiarity. He knows what it’s like to be here, and obviously, the season’s not over, so there are some things that could happen.

“But I think right now, given some of the pitches we’re going to see from the Cardinals, I think we felt good about this one.”

The decision to recall Freeland doesn’t give the Dodgers their best active roster; instead, it plays things safe for now. It also gives Hernández a longer opportunity to break out of his struggles.

Whether that is the correct decision remains to be seen, but at this point it’s highly questionable.

Dodgers roster decision with 40-man roster

The decision to go with Freeland instead of Tibbs is also related to 40-man roster management. Tibbs does not have to be added to the 40-man roster until after the 2027 season, and the Dodgers typically wait as long as possible before adding a player to the 40-man roster.

If the Dodgers added him now, that would take up a spot on their 40-man roster throughout the offseason that they could otherwise use on someone else. That concern was also amplified by the possibility that Tibbs might not perform at the MLB level; if so, they’d have to send him down, losing the 40-man roster spot with no upside now.

Their decision could still change in the coming days or weeks if Hernández continues to slump, but that is part of their mindset in going with Freeland over Tibbs now.