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Nine years after helping keep Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter streak, infielder Miguel Rojas is back with the Dodgers.

After losing Trea Turner to the Phillies last month and missing out on the free-agent shortstop sweepstakes, the Dodgers acquired Rojas from the Marlins on Wednesday to bolster positional depth in exchange for Nakano prospect Jacob Amaya.

Rojas gives the Dodgers another option beyond Gavin Lux, the most obvious candidate to replace Turner at shortstop, and Chris Taylor, who can spend more time in the outfield.

Lux emerged as a shortstop, but had his best season in the major leagues last year as a second baseman for the Dodgers. At the Winter Games, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence in Lux at shortstop, but did not fully commit to the 25-year-old as the position’s starter.

“I think just having options gives us maximum flexibility. Gavin is a really talented player and will help us win a lot of games this year,” Friedman said. “I still don’t know where exactly it is.”

Now, the Dodgers can either keep Lux at second base and start Rojas at shortstop, or return Lux to shortstop and use Rojas as a utility player.

Rojas has been the Marlins’ main shortstop since 2017, but has played in all four infield seats during his nine-year career. 236/.283/.323 to finish the season with his 72 OPS+, his lowest since 2016. He’s batted average in four of his last five seasons, except for his shortened 2020 season, when he posted a career-best .888 OPS in 40 games.

Still, his defense has allowed him to win 10.9 more than his substitutions over the past six seasons. His 33-year-old season last year is his one of his best. Rojas’ 15 defensive runs saved at shortstop ranked second among all eligible players for the position, and his above-average 10 outs ranked tied for sixth.

The Dodgers know the defense Rojas can provide.

Rojas made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2014 and helped keep Kershaw’s no-hitter that year with his excellent play on the third base line. But after batting .181 in 85 games, he was traded in December, leaving Quique Hernandez and Austin Barnes to Los Angeles.

Amaya, who had .795 OPS with 17 homers and six stolen bases between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, has a similar profile to Rojas, who is known more for his glove than his bat. . ZiPS predicts Amaya will be 77 OPS+ next year and he will be a 1.2 WAR player, while Steamer predicts Rojas will be 93 wRC+ and he will be a 1.8 WAR player.

The Dodgers continued their trend of moving on the margin this offseason with a more proven option in Rojas.

While the Padres are increasing their load by adding Xander Bogaerts, and while many candidates are keeping top free agency or spending new free agency or doing both (Mets, Yankees). ), the Dodgers have mostly stayed away from the high-end free agent-agent market, apart from re-signing with Kershaw.

They have seen Trea Turner, Justin Turner, Tyler Anderson, Andrew Heaney, Cody Bellinger, Chris Martin, Tommy Carnley, Joey Gallo and Hanser Albert find new teams. Yonny Hernandez and now Rojas.As Ben Clemens of FanGraphs wrote last weekit is the largest net loss in the sport (based on wins over exchanges in 2022).

With Rojas owed $5 million in 2023 and the Dodgers under pressure to pay Trevor Bauer, staying out of action is giving up-and-coming players a chance to play and avoiding luxury tax fines. It seemed like an effort to reset the$22.5 million, even after appointing him to the mission, they’re now up Slightly above the first tax threshold About $4 million.

It’s still well below what the Dodgers have spent in recent years, and ranks fifth in baseball behind the Mets, Yankees, Padres and Phillies. For now, their attempt to bounce back from the end of a spectacular division series starts with a lower salary than the division rivals that caused it.

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West on FOX Sports. He was previously the editor of the Dodgers’ digital and print publications. Follow @ @ on Twitter.Rowan Kavner.

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