July 14th, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 In Part 1 of ‘Dodgers Trade Deadline Targets,’ we considered bullpen options who might be available from teams that are either rebuilding, or in such disarray that a roster makeover is necessary; the Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, and Toronto Blue Jays. What about the remaining 21 MLB teams which are currently within striking distance of 2019 postseason participation?
First, some weeding out is necessary.
Scratch the Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Diego Padres. Very doubtful that any of these teams are willing to help the Dodgers win its seventh consecutive NL West title; and it is just as unlikely that the Dodgers are the least bit interested in sending talented players to those teams. So, those three teams are not considered as likely trade partners before the deadline.
(Photo credit – Rob Rovira)
According to numerous reports, there are no fewer than nine teams looking to improve their respective bullpens: the Atlanta Braves; Boston Red Sox; Chicago Cubs; Minnesota Twins; Oakland Athletics; Philadelphia Phillies; St. Louis Cardinals; Tampa Bay Rays, and Washington Nationals. These teams will be competing with the Dodgers to acquire available relievers, so they are eliminated as likely bullpen trade partners … for now. However, over the next 17 days, a few of these teams could move from buyers to sellers, should they fall further back in their pursuit of postseason play.
Three teams have exceptional bullpens, the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Milwaukee Brewers. Each of these teams are reportedly looking to improve their respective starting rotations, but not likely to weaken their bullpen in order to acquire a starter. None of the three are considered to be likely trade partners for Dodgers.
That leaves the Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers as potential trade partners. Each of these teams are looking to strengthen their rosters for the 2019 post season stretch run with players who will contribute now rather than with their current prospects.
The Texas Rangers are only 1.5 games out of a wild card berth and the Angels trailing a postseason berth by 5.5 games. Both teams need starting pitching but neither team is likely to trade their current closer. Unless the Dodgers believe that the Rangers José Leclerc, or the Angels Ty Buttrey, Cam Bedrosian, or Justin Anderson would be a late innings upgrade, a trade does not seem likely.
Cincinnati Reds are an interesting possibility for bullpen help. Their 29-year old right-handed closer Raisel Iglesias might be a target for the Dodgers. Amir Garrett appears to be ready now to replace Iglesias as their closer, and the Reds need starting pitching and offense as it chases a postseason berth (currently only 4.5 games behind in the wild card race). Perhaps Ross Stripling and Matt Beaty may be enough to acquire Iglesias.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
The Pittsburgh Pirates have one of the top closers in MLB, 28-year old, left-hander Felipe Vázquez (aka Felipe Riverio), who would be a great addition to the Dodgers staff, but the Pirates would have to be overwhelmed to trade its closer, reportedly wanting two of the Dodgers top four prospects. Perhaps the Dodgers could overwhelm the Pirates with quantity in place of quality; say five mid-level prospects? More likely, the Dodgers trade for 35-year-old / 14-year MLB veteran Francisco Liriano as a late innings left-hander, offering left-hander Scott Alexander and outfielder Kyle Garlick.
Cleveland Indians closer Brad Hand would be a coup for any team, but he will be expensive to acquire, as the Indians are still in the chase for the AL Central championship and in the lead for a wild card spot. The Indians need an outfielder who can hit, a starting pitcher, and a bullpen replacement if it were to trade Hand. Would the Dodgers trade 2019 Home Run Derby runner-up Joc Pederson, Stripling and Alexander for Hand? The Dodgers modus operandi is to trade prospects to upgrade the roster for postseason play as opposed to trading current rostered players, but for Hand, the team might be willing to make an exception.
Last but not least are the Chicago White Sox, who are currently 7.5 games behind in the wild card race. The ChiSox have a top notch closer, 30-year old Alex Colomé, and 25-year old left-handed set-up man Aaron Bummer, who would significantly upgrade the Dodgers bullpen. The two Chicago pitchers would be expensive, but the Dodgers have the wherewithal to acquire both pitchers; perhaps Stripling, right-hander Yimi Garcia, utility infielder/outfielder Edwin Rios and minor league right-hander Jordan Sheffield would get a deal done.
Well, that’s it for now. Look for updates as July 31 gets closer – pun intended.
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As always, I prefer the Dodgers to trade their top prospects that are not on the 25 man roster. It would be good to see them trade for a “Closer-type” reliever.
Two of the top four prospects is a non-starter for me. So Vazquez is out unfortunately.
It’s a big time seller’s market, any top end relievers will be very, very expensive. Please no short sighted moves.
Getting the best position player last year, Machado, and the best starter two years ago, Darvish, didn’t win us anything. And who can forget the reliever “get” of three years ago, Josh Fields? I wish I could, but I keep getting visions of Yordan Alvarez in left field for the Dodgers.
Kind of reminds me of what the Marlins were demanding in a potential trade for Realmuto in this past off season.
Pirates are just blowin’ smoke up the Dodgers’ rear ends, lol. They know full well it’s not gonna take TWO of their Top 4 prospects to get Vazquez. Only reason they’re asking for two instead of one plus a couple MLB-ready cost-controlled prospects (i.e. Edwin Rios, Matt Beaty, Zach Reks, Tony Gonsolin, etc.) is because they know the Dodgers are more than willing to part with Keibert Ruiz (they’re NOT parting with Will Smith at this point) in that deal and he hasn’t really been setting the minor-league world on fire so far this season even though he’s still only a “baby” at 20 at the AA level. I think they’re still feeling the pain of giving away two top prospects of their own in Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow for what turned out to be fool’s gold in Chris Archer, an inconsistent mid-rotation arm at best. A package of Ruiz, Caleb Ferguson, and two blocked MLB-ready prospects like Rios and Gonsolin would certainly do it. If I’m Friedman, I’d hand them that offer and tell ’em to sit on it until the trade deadline just so they can calm down and think about what they’re actually getting back in return for once.
As for the rest, Iglesias has already lost his luster and should be avoided. If the Reds aren’t gonna cough up Garrett, no need to waste time gettin’ them on the phone. Same goes for the Pirates’ Liriano as well. Buttrey’s an intriguing option and one the Dodgers shouldn’t totally dismiss in the meantime unless the Halos actually feel they can inspire themselves to a WC berth in wake of what happened to one of their own just recently (RIP, Tyler Skaggs). Colome I’m not really all that high on as I feel he’s no better than what the Dodgers currently have in their pen, but Bummer I kinda am due to him being a younger cost-controlled arm who’s just now coming into his own this season. I’d rather look into his availability at the deadline for once, especially if the Pirates continue to act delusional with their trade demands surrounding Vazquez like the reeling (NO pun intended, lol) Marlins did when they foolishly demanded Cody Bellinger for JT Realmuto just this past winter.
And to the one who keeps pining for Yordan Alvarez, just give it up already. The only thing valuable about him was his bat and that’s not really gonna do an NL contender any good UNLESS he’s coming off the bench to pinch-hit. Defensively, the Astros have done their best to hide him at the DH spot (you never saw him starting much during interleague play under NL rules, either). Besides, where would the Dodgers have played him anyway? He was trade bait the moment he entered their system a few years back. Just too bad they didn’t hang onto him long enough to truly max out his market value and not have to settle for a so-so reliever like Josh Fields, heh…
Good points. I will try to keep this short. I agree that Dodgers should be open to trading Ruiz in the right deal, and Vazquez is the type of controllable asset that fits as the “right deal.” But, Dodgers will have to consider what other players/pitchers they might acquire by dangling Ruiz. I disagree with you about Iglesias. In back to back games (June 26 and June 30) he allowed 7 earned runs in 3 innings to the Angels and Cubs. those 7 earned runs represent 41.1% of the earned runs he has allowed in 2019. In all of his other outings he has allowed 10 earned runs and is pitching to a 2.59 ERA; no loss of velocity on any of his pitches. Liriano is a veteran who would be an upgrade over a healthy Alexander. Not sure where you are coming from on Colomé, he has been outstanding, much more reliable than Baez, or Kelly. Adding him as a setup guy, or close when needed would be an add IMO. My preferred options: acquire Giles from the Bluejays, and Bummer from the Chisox.
I would only hope that any deal for a reliever or 2 or whoever does not cost the Dodgers Lux, May or will Smith
Spot on!
I’m with ya both on that one as well. Can’t see the front office bungling this one up this time around, but we shall find out soon enough…
Paul I agree with you 100%. A couple of considerations:
1 The dodgers as currently constructed have a superior rotation that will be around for a while yet. CK Buehler Urias hopefully retaining RYU and Maeda.
May coming-I think May is the only untouchable for me.
2 We have on the roster multiple guys who are going to be around for awhile
Muncy Seager Bellinger Verdugo Pollock Barnes or W Smith=that’s that’s 6 positions out of 8. If you retain C Taylor and bring up Beatty that’s 9guys.
Quite a roster. J Turner still has 2 more yrs I believe.
3-As the Chambers Brothers sang “the time has come to today” I want to drink
champagne in the cooler since 1988. Freidman has to have a win now approach.
4-Our payroll will drop next yr a lot. So if you win one time its about time.
I would trade Ruiz and Gonsolin in a trade for Vasquez. I think if the dodgers were to acquire an Elite Closer to go with Jansen and the new elite Joe Kelly the Dodgers would be clear favorites to win the world series this yr and next yr.
We don’t need Ruiz, and we have proved this yr that an offensive catcher on this solid offensive team is not needed. We still have W Smith.
Plus look around, we have solid replacements at every position. Bellinger Seager
Muncy Verdugo Barnes and W Smith all young. Pollock is locked up for 3 to 4 more yrs. No room for a lot of these prospects. Time to make a BIG DEal.
“Pirates are just blowin’ smoke up the Dodgers’ rear ends, lol. They know full well it’s not gonna take TWO of their Top 4 prospects to get Vazquez”.
Pirates are dead serious about TWO top 4 prospects. Why shouldn’t they be? It’s a buyer’s market. History tells us somebody will PAY.
“He (Yordan Alvarez) was trade bait the moment he entered their system a few years back. Just too bad they didn’t hang onto him long enough to truly max out his market value and not have to settle for a so-so reliever like Josh Fields”.
You could be right about Alvarez. He doesn’t fit the high contact, versatile fielding player Dodgers favor. But, I would have loved his MLB start in Dodger Blue. In any event, you make my point, Dodgers sold low (at the trade deadline) instead of maximizing Alvarez’s value. “Buyer beware” is the message that can’t be forgotten at the trade deadline. Happily, this is Friedman’s M.O.
Maybe a “relative” bargain can be had by targeting Diaz on the Mets.
Pirates are no more “dead serious” about getting back two Top 4 prospects (i.e. ranked in the current MLB Top 100, which changes a lot on a month-by-month basis, mind you) for Vazquez than the Marlins were when it came time to flip their last real trade piece in JT Realmuto over this past winter, lol. Besides, Vazquez is not the only play in town right now and the Dodger front office probably realizes that already. If some other club overpays for his services, so be it. In the end, it’s STILL gonna be the young homegrown talent that decides whether or not the Dodgers finally get it done this year.
As for Alvarez, glad he’s doing well for Houston but he was never meant to be for the Dodgers. And have you seen what the Dodgers have down on the farm right now after this year’s draft concluded just recently??? Might have an Alvarez-type on the way a year from now in that Tarheel kid they took in the 1st round last month (Michael Busch) and he’s definitely NOT a defensive liability at the three positions he qualifies at, 1B especially.
😉
Oh, and NAY on Diaz. Mets worked him so hard for so long, he’s nearly due for a date with Mr. TJ at his current pace…