February is here, which means spring training is just around the corner for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the rest of Major League Baseball.The Boys in Blue made waves this offseason with their flurry of moves at the winter meetings, trading away key players from last season's team that took home the National League West division title.It remains to be seen whether this year's roster incarnation is superior, but most of the players on the 2015 Dodgers know their role heading into the new season. The starting rotation is set, along with the closer and infield.Two positions that are still up for grabs, however, are catcher and center field.CatcherThere were definite concerns within the organization following the struggles of A.J. Ellis last season. The Dodgers' incumbent backstop batted just .191 in 93 games as he battled through knee and ankle injuries.But although his performance at the plate suffered, the new front office led by President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi realized his value in other areas of the gamenamely his relationship with the pitching staff."I don't know what I'm going to do if he's not back," Clayton Kershaw told reporters following the Dodgers' season-ending loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Division Series last October, per Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times. "I think we'd be losing a lot if we let him go."It's why the Dodgers ultimately decided to avoid arbitration with Ellis and brought him back on a one-year, $4.25 million deal, per Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com."Thats been a part of our process, understanding the dynamics and the relationships and its clear hes a big part of this team and a big part of the preparation and comfort level for the pitchers,"Zaidi told Hernandez.The Dodgers still made sure to proceed with a Plan B just in case Ellis falters for a second straight year. Los Angeles acquired switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal from the San Diego Padres in the blockbuster deal that sent fan favorite and franchise cornerstone Matt Kemp out of town.The former 12th overall pick in the 2010 draft will be tasked with living up to some lofty expectations in the eyes of most Dodgers fans simply because of who the team traded away in order to get him.Grandal has batted just .224 since testing positive for testosterone in November 2012. His return to the field in 2013 was cut short by a season-ending knee injury, but he did hit 15 home runs while playing half of his games in spacious Petco Park last year.What's more,Grandal batted .328 in 19 games in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, according to J.P. Hoornstra of InsideSocal.com.Grandal recently described his knee as being "110 percent" improved compared toa year ago, per Hoornstra."Its the reason I went to the Dominican Republic to make sure I was right," said Grandal. "I think I showed I was right and thats why so many teams started calling in afterwards."Ellis will likely be Kerhaw's personal catcher because of their close relationship on and off the field, while Grandal undoubtedly offers more pop in the lineup along with a fine.350 career on-base percentage and elite pitch-framing ability.According to Hoornstra, manager Don Mattingly held a meeting with both of his catchers but has yet to determine an arrangement for their playing time in 2015."A.J. couldnt put it any better: Whatever it takes to win," said Grandal, per Hoornstra. "If that day A.J. is the man for the job behind the plate and we are going to get a win with A.J. behind the plate, thats going to be him. At the end of the day, if we get a win, thats a team win and we all get a ring."Look for Mattinglyto form a platoon based on matchups when it comes to his catcher on any given night.Center FieldThe battle to become the starting center fielder for the Dodgers this season will come down to a seasoned veteran and a highly touted prospect.It's going to be to Andre Ethier vs.Joc Pederson.Ethier was the odd man out last season, an unlucky victim of the team's outfield logjam. The eight-year veteran was banished to the bench in favor of Carl Crawford, who solidified himself as the everyday left fielder. Yasiel Puig patrolled center and Kemp played right.With Kemp now out of the picture, the Dodgers plan to move Puig back to his natural position in right field, where the team can utilize his strong throwing arm to its maximum potential. Crawford will be back in left field, which means center field is wide open, and Ethier expects to reclaim a starting role, per Steve Dilbeck of theLos Angeles Times.It was fun trying to win the way we did last year, but it didnt prove any more successful than me playing every day or not playing every day.Id rather play every day and help this team win -- or whatever team it is -- to the best of my ability. I feel I can, if given a role. As I stand here today, Im preparing every day to be a starting outfielder for the Dodgers, until Im told otherwise. Im not changing my mind about that. Its probably going to be a little less wanting to take the same role as I did last year.The problem that Mattingly has with simply handing Ethier back his starting gig is multifaceted. First of all,Ethier is coming off the worst season of his career, one that saw him bat .249 with just four home runs and 42 RBI in 341 at-bats."You put up the numbers, you play. It's pretty simple," Mattingly said, per Eric Stephen of True Blue LA. "You perform, you compete, and if you win the job, you're playing."Ethier clearly didn't put up numbers worthy of everyday playing time a season ago. The argument can be made that he never was able to establish a rhythm at the plate with such sporadic at-bats, but maybe he is simply beginning his inevitable decline as a serviceable major league player. Ethier willturn 33 in April.It's a legitimate concern for Mattingly and the Dodgers, who must also accommodate the rise of Pederson, their top outfield prospect.Pederson slashed .303/.435/.582 with 135 hits and 78 RBI in 121 games at Triple-A before his September call-up last season. Hebecame the Pacific Coast League's first player since 1934 to hit at least 30 home runs and steal 30 bases in the same season,according to Mike Axisa of CBSSports.com.According to Dilbeck,Mattingly considers Pederson the "best defensive center fielder" on the Dodgers, and the 22-year-old rookie will have an opportunity to earn an everyday job at the position during spring training.Friedman and Zaidi agree with this plan."I think well take some time in spring training and assess that, get a feel for him in camp and how hes handling things,"Friedman told Dilbeck. "Itll be a discussion we'll have with the staff and Im sure it will be an ongoing discussion between now through the last game in March."If Pederson holds his own during spring training, which will comprise of more than the 39 plate appearances he made with the big club last September, the Dodgers will likely begin the season with the 22-year-old as their starting center fielder.Ethier will presumably be unhappy starting the season on the bench yet again, but it will be difficult for Los Angeles to trade him without eating a significant portion of the $56 million he is owed through 2018. Moreover, the team may view Ethier as an above-average insurance policy in case the injury-prone Crawford feels a twinge somewhere along the way."I think Joc should have the opportunity to compete for the position. I don't think we should hand anything over," Mattingly said, per Stephen. "It's a spot where there will be competition."All statistics courtesy ofFanGraphsunless otherwise linked/noted.Follow @NickOstiller
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