With only nine spring training games remaining for the Dodgers before they depart on their trip to Sydney, Australia for their 2014 season opener, the second round of roster cuts are looming large and may come as early as today or Monday. And though there are bound to me some surprises, some moves are all but guaranteed to happen.

Without question the biggest moves will likely involve the second base and utility infield/outfield jobs that are still up for grabs – moves that Dodgers manager Don Mattingly is keeping very close to the vest. Over the past week both Dee Gordon and Alex Guerrero have done well at the position defensively and both are swinging the bat well of late. From a purely statistical standpoint Guerrero has a very slight edge with his .273 batting average (6 for 22) and a .333 on base percentage compared to Gordon’s .227 average (5 for 22) and .320 OBP. But what Gordon has that Guerrero does not and most likely never will have is speed. Through 12 games Gordon has stolen a Cactus League-leading seven bases without being caught compared to zero stolen bases by Guerrero. But while Gordon’s stolen bases are a definite game changer, they are a non-factor if he is unable to get base.

There is absolutely no question that Dee Gordon’s speed is a game changer – if he can get on base.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“It’s just a matter of Dee getting on base and he’ll steal bases,” said Mattingly after Saturday night’s game against the Mariners in which Gordon went 2 for 4 with two stolen bases. “He has to hit the ball on the ground. Hit it in the air in the big leagues, you’re out. It’s not Little League, they’re going to catch it. He has to know who he is. It’s what we’re asking him to do. Keep the ball out of the air. If he gets on, he’ll be dynamic,” added the Dodger skipper.”

Although Gordon has started four of the last eight games at second base in the last week compared to two of the last seven for Guerrero, Gordon has also seen action in center field, suggesting that he is a more likely candidate for a utility job than the everyday second base job. However, infielder Justin Turner has done a good job at second base as well and is carrying a .375 batting average (6 for 16) with an impressive .500 OBP. Such numbers and an error-free glove might suggest that Mattingly will go the platooning route at second base. If this happens, Guerrero would most likely begin the 2014 season at Triple-A Albuquerque where he could play the position everyday until ready to assume the everyday second base job with the Dodgers.

In addition to Alex Guerrero showing excellent plate discipline over the past week, he has also shown some pop. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In all likelihood Chone Figgins will make the cut and will make the Dodgers opening day roster. Through 12 games, Figgins has played every position except pitcher, catcher and first base. Such versatility is the very definition of a utility player. That being said, Figgins is hitting only .150 (3 for 20) which could put him at risk.

While all of this is pure speculation and opinion, there is every indication that non-roster invitees Brendan Harris and Miguel Rojas will be reassigned/optioned to minor league camp, as will back-up catchers Miguel Olivo and J.C. Boscan. What is not so clear is whether or not Tim Federowicz will remain as the back-up catcher to A.J. Ellis or if Drew Butera has taken that spot from Federowicz. Butera has done exceptionally well behind the plate this spring and is hitting .143 (1 for 7) compared to Federowicz’s .118 (2 for 17). Whether or not this is enough to give the nod to the 30-year-old Butera over the 26-year-old Federowicz remains to be seen. Both Federowicz and Butera are on the Dodgers 40-man roster whereas Olivo and Boscan are not.

Although the Dodgers opening day outfield is still in a state of flux, it appears that Matt Kemp could return to the Dodger lineup sooner rather than later but it is still unlikely that he will see action before May 1. And though there is every indication that Carl Crawford will be healthy enough to start the season as the Dodgers everyday left fielder, there are still concerns about his right quadriceps. If Crawford can go, it would make sense to keep Scott Van Slyke as the Dodgers fourth outfielder and back-up first baseman for Adrian Gonzalez. However, if Crawford cannot go and if Kemp is still a couple of weeks away from returning, it would make sense to add top outfield prospect Joc Pederson to the opening day roster until Crawford and/or Kemp are ready to return to everyday action. The only hitch is that Pederson is currently not on the Dodgers 40-man roster, but this could be resolved relatively easily by moving Chad Billingsley to the 15-day DL.

It is also safe to say that back-up first baseman Clint Robinson will be reassigned to minor league camp in spite of his hot start this spring. Robinson came out of the chute blazing hot and was the team’s best hitter for almost two weeks but has cooled off considerably in the past two weeks and is now hitting .333 (7 for 21). The humble 29-year-old Robinson has definitely earned the first baseman job for the Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes and would most likely be the first choice as the Dodgers everyday first baseman in the event of (Lord forbid) an injury to Adrian Gonzalez.

Where things start to get a bit dicey is with the number five spot in the Dodgers rotation. Although Josh Beckett got roughed up in his second start of the spring on Saturday night, his first start was outstanding. And while latecomer Paul Maholm has been impressive in his two appearances thus far, it is unlikely that he will get the nod over Beckett – for now, that is. And although Dodgers top pitching prospect Zach Lee was brilliant in his one and only start, it is unlikely that he will fill the number five spot in the Dodgers rotation – for now, that is. Filling the number five spot is not a top priority for Mattingly right now as a fifth starter will not be needed until April 19. There is still a chance that Beckett could start the season on the 15-day DL in order to get some “rehab” starts in the minor leagues – not necessarily because he is injured but to get him into a regular five-man rotation until needed with the Dodgers.

Where things really get cloudy is with the Dodgers bullpen. It is impossible to ignore the great pitching by Seth Rosin and Chris Perez this spring. So good have these two been that there is every indication that Chris Withrow and Jose Dominguez may begin the season in Albuquerque or perhaps even Chattanooga – not because Rosin and Perez are that much better than Withrow or Dominguez but because Withrow and Dominguez still have options. To complicate matters even more, because Rosin was selected in the Rule-5 Draft, he must either be on the Dodgers 25-man roster all season or be offered back to the Phillies along with $50,000 cash. Rosin has certainly pitched well enough to earn a spot on the Dodgers roster, but it would come at the cost of optioning Withrow or Dominguez back down to the minors.

Chris Perez has allowed only one hit in his three innings of work while striking out three. He and fellow right-hander Seth Rosin are among the biggest surprises this spring. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Another issue in the Dodgers bullpen is what to do with Javy Guerra, who is out of options – he either makes the opening day roster or he must be designated for assignment. Should the latter occur, there is little doubt that Guerra would immediately be picked up off waivers by another major league team before the Dodgers could offer him a minor league contract. Even though Guerra has not allowed a run in the four innings that he has pitched this spring, he has not been nearly as sharp as Rosin or Perez.

Pitchers likely to be optioned or reassigned in the next day or two include Zach Lee, Daniel Moskos, Red Patterson and Carlos Frias.