Dodgers loaded farm system is about to become a roster headache

The Dodgers could have used a player like Miguel Vargas this year.Their lineup was starved for power at times and Vargas homered 31 times.Their team was old and Vargas was a 26-year-old All-Star.Here’s the irony: Just two years ago, the Dodgers had Vargas on their roster.But the Dodgers didn’t have an open corner-infield position for him.

When they failed to turn him into an outfielder, they traded him.Dealing Vargas wasn’t a mistake.In the three-team trade that sent him to the Chicago White Sox, the Dodgers received Tommy Edman, who helped them win two World Series.And it’s not as if a position for Vargas would have opened up.

Max Muncy remains at third base, Vargas’ primary position.Freddie Freeman is at first.Talent is only one factor in replacing one generation of players with the next.

Timing is equally important.This will be particularly relevant for the Dodgers as they attempt to turn over their roster in the coming years.They had the oldest team in the major leagues this year.And while their farm system is considered to be one of the best in baseball, they have a disproportionate number of outfielders among their top prospects, further complicating an already-difficult process.“A lot of the major-league onboarding is hard,” general manager Brandon Gomes said.

“You can only get guys in Double A or Triple A up to the five- or 10-yard line.It’s hard to get them into the end zone to fully understand how to hit the ground running in the big leagues.”A number of the Dodgers’ minor leaguers are already at the metaphorical red zone.No.

1 prospect Josue De Paula was called up to the major leagues directly from Double A in September.In 11 regular-season games, he displayed an advanced knowledge of the strike zone for a 21-year-old, which led to him being included in the Dodgers’ postseason roster.De Paula is an outfielder, as are the organization’s No.

2 and 3 prospects in the MLB Pipeline rankings, 21-year-old Eduardo Quintero and 23-y...