July 22nd, 2019 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka Unless you’ve been stranded on a desert island (or live in an area with poor cell or Wi-Fi service), you are undoubtedly aware that Dodgers top-ranked prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May have been absolutely tearing it up in the Dodgers minor league system. In fact, both were doing so well at Double-A Tulsa this season that both – and a few others – were recently promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
But with MLB’s (now one and only) trade deadline only a week away, trade rumors and speculation involving Lux, May, and catchers Keibert Ruiz and Will Smith – all of whom, to this point, have been considered untouchable – are running rampant.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
It is certainly no secret that the Dodgers are in (very) desperate need of top-tier bullpen help if they are to have any hopes of winning their first World Series championship in 31 years. It is also no secret that in order to acquire such bullpen help, the Dodgers absolutely positively will have to part with one (or more) of their top young prospects; possibly even one (or more) of the aforementioned four.
Trade rumors notwithstanding, prior to Saturday’s game between the Dodgers and Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium, I asked Dodgers manager Dave Roberts if, because of their recent successes in the high minors, might Gavin Lux and Dustin May be rewarded with a September call-up … if they are still in the organization, that is?
“They’re both playing really good baseball,” Roberts began, almost perplexed by my question but clearly giving it serious thought. “Ah … things could happen. Right now I’m not thinking about kind of September call-ups and / or if it were before for both guys, but obviously making our jobs more difficult and intriguing, which is what they should do.
“You can add Will Smith to that mix as well … Tony Gonsolin,” Roberts added. “There’s a lot of good players in our system that are kind of knocking on the door, so only time will tell.”
Take from this what you will, but it is difficult – if not impossible – to ignore that “and / or if it were before for both guys” thing. It is also difficult – if not impossible – to miss the fact that Roberts chose his words very carefully to answer what (I thought) was simple yes or no question.
Could it be that the Dodgers skipper is already aware of significant changes that are about to go down but is sworn to secrecy and tiptoed carefully around my question?
“Only time will tell.”
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Posted in 
Prospects are not in the majors for a reason. Dodgers need a catcher, 2B, another starter and two bullpen arms. Ferguson, Chagrois and Garcia are awful.
Well the Dodgers certainly aren’t going to acquire all of that at the deadline:
Catcher: We already have Austin Barnes and Russell Martin. Give them time, their bats will come alive and if needed Ruiz can be a September callup
Second baseman: Max Muncy can play 2B, Kike has had clutch moments in pinch hit situations, and Taylor was riding a hot bat before he went down.
Another starter: Three All-Star starters isn’t enough for you? You only need 4 starters in the postseason, and that fourth spot could go to Rich Hill when he comes back or Kenta Maeda.
Two bullpen arms: That’s our area of concern right now. If the Dodgers wanna be smart and not stupid at the deadline, they’ll trade Smith and/or Gonsolin for Will Smith, Amir Garrett, Shane Greene, etc.
Forget will smith of the Giants. He is strictly a rental. Vasquez of the Pirates is the guy we need. Give them Ruiz and DJ peters. We get Vasquez game over
Pirates are not trading Vasquez
Whitt Merrifield & F. Vasquez are the guys we need to put us over the top
sure and we will give up Will Smith, Keibert Ruiz, Gavin Lux and May. No farm system left
I’m sure Dodgers management has plans upon plans for who to promote and when depending on who they acquire at the deadline and who it costs them. Dave knows this I’m sure.
I REALLY hope it doesn’t take any of the current big four to get what they need.
Dan, I also hope upon hope at least for me anyway, that it won’t cost us Lux, May or Will Smith. these are the big 3 I want to hold on to no matter what because the relievers mentioned as targets here will NOT guarantee a WS ring on their own.
I would give up one, and only one of the big four for Felipe (I know – Pittsburgh says he’s off the table) and nobody else. I’d add Peters
and maybe Gonsolin to that list. It just isn’t worth it to bump their
WS chances from 19 to 20 percent for 1 year by giving up genuine prospects for a rental.
By my count, they will be at risk of losing 8-10 guys who have some potential to a roster crunch at the end of the season. I hope AF’s approach is to get as much as he can for a bundle of the Beatty/Garlick/Rios types and call it a day.
At this point I really doubt the Dodgers can afford to keep both Smith and Ruiz untouchable. Either one would be their most valuable trade chip. One is the higher ranked prospect, the other has already shown what he can do on the big stage.
I suspect that most Dodger fans want to keep Smith. I’m on that side too.
So am I, Bob
I also agree!!!!
If the Dodgers let go of one of Ruiz and Smith, I agree, I’d prefer they keep Smith. I’d actually prefer they keep both – I’d want a helluva return on a catcher with excellent defensive skills who didn’t embarrass himself offensively as a 20yo in AA.
we have Austin Barnes and Russ Martin alrady
“Prospects are not in the majors for a reason. Dodgers need a catcher, 2B, another starter and two bullpen arms. Ferguson, Chagrois and Garcia are awful.”
I dunno. My 4-man in the postseason would be Ryu, Urias, Beuhler and Kershaw. Perhaps you’re thinking they don’t plan to build Urias up? I do hope they allow Smith and Lux to compete for Barnes and Kike’s postseason spots.
Urias is not going to be a starter in the postseason. He’ll be our best lefty out of the pen.
Dodgers won’t need to go after another bullpen arm if they just let either Urias or Maeda have that late-inning role for the remainder of this season once the playoffs roll around. Only way I even see Urias back in the starting rotation at this point is if AND ONLY IF management feels Hill won’t be able to make it back from his forearm injury come September. If that turns out to be the case, then they better hedge their bets and go after an arm that won’t cost them more than one Top 4 prospect they can definitely part with:::cough:::Ruiz:::cough:::Matter of fact, this is my short list of prospects within the Top 30 that they probably should try their best to hold on to as the trade deadline nears (Lux, May, and Smith are going nowhere so I won’t bother including them):
-DJ Peters (depends on what they do with Joc Pederson at this point)
-Josiah Gray (only if he nets them the Pirates’ Vazquez)
-Jeter Downs (if he can stick at SS with Lux projected to move to 2B)
-Jacob Amaya (big insurance in case Downs is indeed dealt)
-Miguel Vargas (special talent that folks are still sleeping on, could be insurance in case Dodgers don’t end up keeping Seager beyond his walk year)
-Hunter Feduccia (still see him and Smith as the Dodgers’ future long-term C duo)
That’s about it. Ought to be an exciting time between now and the deadline with rumors being thrown about every which way as always…
The biggest thing is to get home field advantage thru world series. Ryu is far better at home than away. He could start games 2 & 6 at home. Without home field advantage, he would start game 3 at home and game 7 on the road.
@okc_dodgers @TheRealGavinLux @d_maydabeast @will_smith30 @goooose15 ⚾️💙⚾️