Let’s say you’re in charge of the Dodgers.

You need a third baseman. Quality guys at the hot corner are tough to come by.

They’re so rare, one of the best teams in baseball converted the best shortstop in baseball into a third baseman.

Just this year, a former All-Star shortstop VOLUNTEERED to play third while the regular starter went on the DL.

Clearly, third basemen are at a premium.

But, wait, Dodgers – you’re in luck!

You could get one coming off a career MVP year. A player that averaged over 20 HRs and 80 RBIs the past four years.

A player that’s as good with the clubhouse as he is with the glove and bat.

A player that’s a long-established cornerstone of your community and your team.

And, the best part – he’s only 26 years old.

You’ll be getting one of the best third baseman in baseball during the prime of his career.

And all you have to do is offer him a reasonable contract.

Wouldn’t you want him on your team? Wouldn’t you love to see him in Dodger Blue until he walked into the Hall of Fame?

Yeah, so would I. But not the Dodgers.

No, of course not. Why would “Stat Boy” DePodesta want to put all his money behind a proven performer?

Why do that when you can spend that money on thugs and slugs and brittle lugs?

Why field a good team, when you can field the team you want?

Well, it’s almost October.

Almost time for post-season baseball, the best time of the year.

And the Dodgers aren’t a part of it. And they shouldn’t be.

But if they had Adrian Beltre?

Those 84 RBIs would give the Dodgers over 750 runs scored – almost as good as the Cardinals and Braves.

Those 19 homeruns would give the Dodgers the same number of homers as those NL-best Cardinals.

You might’ve heard of a feared young player they have named Albert Pujols.

Unlike Stat Boy, GM Walt Jocketty realized what he had in Pujols.

He signed Pujols to a long-term contract as soon as he could.

Pujols will probably retire a Cardinal. And a Hall of Famer.

Adrian Beltre? Who knows? One thing’s for sure, though.

With him, we could’ve been a contender.

Bill Plaschke’s favorite type of dog food is Kibbles & Bits.