Dodgers: it really is time to send Mookie Betts back to right field

Mookie Betts has long been recognized for his defensive excellence in right field. The Dodgers' star player, who also played the #9 position while in Boston, was among the elite when he played right field.

This year, however, Betts finds himself at shortstop. He agreed to make the change to accommodate the team… and he's doing a fine job in his new position.

But the man who replaces him in right, Teoscar Hernandez, is struggling. Hernandez has never been a great defensive player, of course, but it's particularly difficult for him this year.

As a result, there's growing talk of moving Betts back to the right. In the last few days, in fact, a meeting between Betts, Dave Roberts and Andrew Friedman after a game has been the talk of the town.

The meeting took place after a game in which Hernandez made a mistake that sank his team… and of course it got people talking, even though everyone in Los Angeles is trying to play down the situation.

Mookie Betts and Andrew Friedman each independently echoed what Dave Roberts said about last night's “meeting” – literally, an open-door affair. It didn't have anything to do with right field.

Roberts was asked about the notion of Betts in RF anyway: https://t.co/5RLuIi3EnY

— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) August 20, 2025

Jim Bowden is one of the many skeptics. A former GM in the MLB, Bowden is adamant that the idea of sending Betts back to the right was definitely raised during that meeting.

And that's regardless of what the Dodgers may say, in his opinion.

The meeting between Andrew Friedman, Mookie Betts, and Dave Roberts surely had to do with Betts going back to right field, says @JimBowdenGM.

“They can say whatever they want to say, and believe me, I was at GM for 16.5 years. I did the same thing.” pic.twitter.com/t8n2LdKPut

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 20, 2025

But in reality, it all makes sense. The Dodgers may have several injured infielders, but the former Blue Jays' defense is a real problem right now. Sending Betts to right field would be a monstrous improvement.

Because right now, it's one of the biggest problems for the defending champions.

And inevitably, all this raises the question of whether Hernandez's future really lies with the Dodgers. The club's designated hitter position will belong to Shohei Ohtani for the next decade, so one has to wonder if the Dodgers will consider trading the man who will have two more years on his contract at the end of this season.

And if they do, there's one team north of the border that might be interested in Hernandez…

This content was created with the help of AI.