It’s no secret at this point that the Dodgers are extremely left-handed heavy on their offense. It’s one of the reasons that the team has been so susceptible to left-handed pitching over the past couple of years. And from the looks of it, the lineup may not be balancing out any time soon.

#Dodgers add 4 Top 30 prospects to the 40-man roster
2. Keibert Ruiz
10. Yadier Alvarez
13. Edwin Rios
21. Matt Beaty
Complete list for all 30 @MLB clubs: https://t.co/QaBjMjHHdJ pic.twitter.com/Vwd7JIdLvl

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) November 21, 2018

In choosing to add Matt Beaty and Edwin Rios to the 40-man roster, the team has committed to having a left-handed heavy roster for the foreseeable future. That is of course unless they are protecting these guys to use them as trade bait. Rios and Beaty rank as the Dodgers’ 13th and 20th ranked prospects respectively.

Rios spent most of his time playing 1st and 3rd at Triple-A, with a  few innings spent in the outfield. The team has tried to move him around on defense since he is blocked by Justin Turner and Cody Bellinger moving forward. His bat is really the difference maker in deciding to keep him on the 40-man roster. Rios hit 51 homeruns between 2016 and 2017 and added ten more in a limited 2018 campaign. He has also hit 305 over his last three seasons, playing at three minor league levels. Rios will turn 25 in April of 2019.

Beaty profiles much like Rios does. He adjusted his swing to hit for more power but does not play exceptional defense anywhere on the field aside from the corner infield spots. He, like Rios, is blocked by Turner and Bellinger. Beaty had to sit out most of the 2018 season with a torn thumb ligament and intercostal strain. At the Double-A level in 2017, he slashed 326/378/505 with 15 home runs. That year resulted in him taking home Texas League MVP honors. Beaty will be 26 in April of 2019.

Moving Forward

The Dodgers have to make a decision on these guys sooner rather than later. They both look to be major league ready and it would be a waste to keep them at the minor league level. This is especially true when considering their ages. With Turner and Bellinger cemented at the corner infield spots, I would be looking to trade these guys before the 2019 season kicks off. There are plenty of teams out there looking to acquire young power hitters, so Beaty and Rios could go quickly.

While they may not be a centerpiece around a JT Realmuto type trade, it will be interesting to see what sort of return the pair could net.

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