As most baseball fans know, today, December 8, the 2014 MLB Winter Meetings begin in San Diego, California. And although the Dodgers are not expected to make many trades this week, you can pretty much count on them to make a few.

The biggest areas of concern for Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi is at shortstop, the bullpen and acquiring another starting pitcher (or two). Rumors have been running rampant that the Dodgers brain trust are actively pursuing left-handers Cole Hamels and Jon Lester, either of whom would be a huge boost to the Dodgers starting rotation. And while Lester is a free agent, Hamels is not and would cost the Dodgers a great deal in the way of prospects and/or current MLB players. As such, and with Friedman’s commitment to rebuilding the Dodgers farm system, a Hamel’s trade seems unlikely.

No one will argue that Cole Hamels would be a huge addition to the Dodgers starting rotation, but he would undoubtedly cost the Dodgers a boatload of top prospects. (Photo credit – Mark J. Rebilas)

The Dodgers will also probably be shopping for a new catcher – preferably one who can hit above the Mendoza Line. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many of those out there. There have been rumors that the Dodgers were looking to acquire Padres slugger Yasmani Grandal but those talks have apparently stalled. There have also been reports that the Dodgers had a deal worked out to acquire Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero in exchange for Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier and back-up catcher Tim Federowicz, but that deal reported fell through when D-Backs majority owner (and known Dodger fan-hater) Ken Kendrick ruled against the trade because he likes Montero and because he was not comfortable trading him to a National League West rival.

At some point in the not-too-distant future, the Dodgers are also going to need a third baseman. Although Juan Uribe still has one year remaining on his current contract (for $6.5 million), he will be 36 years old on March 22. Even though Uribe is still an outstanding defensive third baseman and always a threat at the plate, he missed 30 games in 2013 and 59 games in 2014 due to hamstring issues. Additionally, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly has indicated that he plans to give his third baseman some extra days off to keep him healthy over the long haul. While utility infielders Miguel Rojas and Justin Turner will undoubted be used to spell Uribe, the Dodgers will soon need to be thinking about a long-term replacement at the hot corner.

Without question much of the focus at this week’s Winter Meetings for Dodger fans will be on whether or not the endless rumors that the Dodgers are shopping star outfielder Matt Kemp are true. Although the $107 million still owed to Kemp through the 2019 season is a huge roadblock for teams interested in the 30-year-old slugger, he is without question the best right-handed hitter on the team, and letting Kemp go on the heels of losing Hanley Ramirez to free agency could spell doom for the Dodgers. Is there any merit to the incessant trade rumors surrounding Kemp and the Dodgers in general? Here’s what Friedman had to say about that:

“I think coming in I understood and appreciated that it comes with the territory. But to see it actually play out? … It’s comical.”

Although the Dodgers are probably willing to listen to offers for Matt Kemp, the chances of getting a comparable return for him are very unlikely – if not impossible. (Photo credit – Brad Rempel)

Another rumor making headlines is that the once ‘untouchable’ Joc Pederson is now having his name thrown around as a possible a trade chip for a top-tier starter or reliever. Although the 22-year-old Palo Alto, CA native absolutely tore it up at Triple-A Albuquerque in 2014 and was named as the Dodgers Minor League Co-Player of the Year, he struggled horribly with the Dodgers after his September 1 call-up, going 4 for 28 (.143) with 11 strikeouts and nine walks in his 38 MLB plate appearances.

Pederson had a very difficult time adjusting to major league pitching after his September 1 call-up to the big leagues. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

There is something else very important that occurs every year at the Winter Meetings – the Rule 5 Draft. And although it is highly unlikely that the Dodgers will make any Rule 5 acquisitions this winter, there are a few Dodger prospects who may draw some interest from other teams.

“Targets on the Dodgers farm might be catcher Chris O’Brien and first baseman O’Koyea Dickson, although I don’t think that either will be taken in the Rule 5 draft,” says ThinkBlueLA’s minor league expert Harold Uhlman. “Left-hander Jarret Martin is also now eligible for the Rule 5 Draft since he is no longer on the [Dodgers] 40-man roster. I had thought that Martin might be claimed off waivers by the D-Backs or Padres after being designated for assignment by the Dodgers, but since he was not, I expect he won’t be taken in the Rule 5 Draft either.”

Bakersfield native Jarret Martin is no longer protected from the Rule 5 Draft and could be a target of former Dodgers scouting gurus Logan White (Padres) or DeJon Watson (D-Backs).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Regardless of what the Dodgers do or don’t do at this week’s Winter Meetings, if you don’t get excited over this stuff, you need to check your pulse.