2024 review: Miguel Vargas

For want of a fielding position, Vargas was the lynchpin in bringing critical pieces Michael Kopech and Tommy Edman to Los Angeles for the championship run.

From being called up to the majors for the first time on the day Vin Scully died to be the sacrifice that helped ensure the Dodgers‘ second title in four years was a hell of an arc for Miguel Vargas’ tenure with the ball club.

Vargas started the year at a crossroads, fresh off a disappointing 2023 campaign. There was a time when Vargas was the anointed and presumed second baseman of the future. Those plans did not pan out because, as gifted Vargas was generally with a bat, he was generally bad with fielding.

Unfortunately for Vargas, he seemed destined for a designated hitter’s life. With the arrival of Shohei Ohtani this year, the Dodgers are not likely to need a designated hitter for the next decade. Vargas found himself blocked at multiple positions while on the travel roster for the Seoul Series. He did not make the opening day roster and started the year in Triple-A Oklahoma City.

However, he did well in Triple-A for the year, primarily playing left field. In 39 games, he had a slash line of .295/.437/.583 with eight home runs (including two grand slams), 14 doubles, a triple, and 38 RBIs. These stats resulted in a 149 wRC+. He even scored on a sacrifice fly to shortstop on April 7.

On May 17, Vargas returned to the majors for the first time in 2024 due to Max Muncy’s right oblique strain. While Vargas had logged time at first base, second base, and third base, he was brought up primarily to play left field.

Even though Vargas had been hitting in Oklahoma City, playing time was at a premium because Teoscar Hernandez remained the Dodgers’ left fielder. While with the club for about 20 days, Vargas appeared in eight games with six starts. He went 5 for 20 in limited action. The only Dodger used less in that timeframe was Austin Barnes. Vargas’ defense was a work in progress.

On June 12, the Dodgers desperately needed someone to play competent third base with Muncy on the injured list. As Vargas was primarily an outfielder, the team acquired Blue Jays’ castoff Cavan Biggio, and the team optioned Vargas back to Oklahoma City.

Five days later, the Dodgers recalled Vargas due to Mookie Betts suffering a fracture in his left hand against the Royals. On June 22, Dave Roberts publicly reiterated what the plan was for Vargas, even with the dearth of production coming from third base:

“I know [Vargas has] been taking grounders over there just to work on his hands and his feet,” Roberts said. “But right now, at this moment in time, he’s going to focus on playing left field versus left-handed pitching.”

When Vargas got to play, he was effective, even slugging his first pinch-hit home run against the Brewers on July 6.

Only Barnes, Biggio, and the recently arrived James Outman had been used less than Vargas at this point of the season. Vargas was a good sport about the lack of playing time, crediting his effectiveness on his health and his preparation:

“I’ve been patient. I’ve been working on myself, trying to get this type of opportunity. I’m grateful to have it and be successful in it,” Vargas said. “It’s a hard job to do it, but at the end of the day it’s a team sport. All I can control is take care of myself, and be ready when the moments come.”

Ultimately, Vargas played in just 30 games with the Dodgers in 2024. He went 17 for 71 with four doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI, resulting in a slash line of .239/.313/.423. Had Vargas’ season ended here, he would most likely be remembered for a meme-worthy reaction to a Justin Heyward bomb.

Screenshot courtesy of SportsNetLA

On July 29, Vargas’ career and the Dodgers’ season took a permanent turn. Vargas and minor leaguers Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus were traded to the White Sox in a blockbuster, three-team trade. The Dodgers received Michael Kopech from the White Sox and Tommy Edman from the Cardinals. The Cardinals received pitcher Erick Fedde and outfielder Tommy Pham.

While Edman was injured at the time of the trade, and Kopech provided some badly needed high-leverage bullpen depth, no one could doubt that Vargas would likely get far more playing time in the southside of Chicago.

Be careful what you wish for.

While Vargas did become an everyday player, primarily at third base, it was for the worst team in modern baseball history. Moreover, Vargas became memorable for being caught on television with a sad expression during games, most notably during the team’s record 21-game losing streak.

In an interview on August 12, Tyler Glasnow discussed Vargas, what his presence meant to the Dodgers and the living baseball nightmare that Vargas was in.

The one part of Vargas’ game that no one ever doubted was his hitting, which completely abandoned him in Chicago. In 42 games with the White Sox, Vargas had a slash line of .104/.217/.170 with three doubles, two home runs, seven RBI, and 41 strikeouts.

His wRC+ with the Dodgers was 106, just above average, and with the White Sox, it was 16. The immediate comparison that came to my mind was 2023-Trayce Thompson, which is imperfect because of the respective 91 wRC+ and 40 wRC+ with both organizations.

To paraphrase the Bard, something is rotten in the southside of Chicago.

Vargas’ adventures with his glove led to probably the worst defensive play I have seen this year, outside of the top of the fifth inning in Game 5 of the World Series against the York Yankees.

On September 2, in the bottom of the second inning, Eloy Jimenez hits a pop fly to shallow left field. Vargas is playing at third base. The rest speaks for itself.

Besides an eye abrasion, Vargas stayed in the game and was fine. Due to baseball’s new anti-tanking rules, the White Sox will pick tenth in the amateur draft, so Vargas’ time in Chicago will likely not improve quickly.

Dodger fans should feel grateful for the trade that brought Kopech and Edman to Los Angeles because the team likely would not have won the World Series without this move. The Dodgers used their depth to give themselves a fighting chance, turning potential failure into hope.

Vargas and the White Sox will visit Dodger Stadium from July 1 to 3, 2025. While it may be a small consolation, Vargas’s receiving his World Series ring is tangible proof that he helped the Dodgers win a title.

2024 particulars

Age: 24

Stats: .239/.313/.423, 106 wRC+, 80 PA, 3 HR, 11 R, 9 RBI, 1 SB

Salary: unknown

Game of the year

Vargas had a couple of multi-hit games while with the Dodgers and played a role in the wild comeback against the Rockies in Denver on June 18. But our selection is for July 6; Vargas hit the first pinch-hit home run of his career in a 5-3 win over the Brewers, capping off two days of offense against Milwaukee.

Roster status

Vargas is on the White Sox 40-man roster.