December 17th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 When discussing Dodgers’ trade options for improving the roster, we must beg the question – which player(s) is the team willing to deal in return for the acquired talent? Maximizing the return while minimizing the loss is the creed — for every team. Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has done a marvelous job applying that principle in his trades; perhaps so well that other teams may be reluctant to even deal with the Dodgers.
(Video capture courtesy of LA Dodgers)
In order to acquire top players, the Dodgers must part with equivalent talent value from their organization depth, whether it be veterans or prospects from the minor league pipeline. During Andrew Friedman’s time with the Dodgers, he has rebuffed other teams efforts to pry away the team’s elite prospects even if it meant walking away from deals that could have improved the team in the short term; he refuses to overpay for any player, whether by trade, or free agency.
What will be the cost for the Dodgers to acquire another right-handed bat (or two should free agent Justin Turner sign with another team), enhance the bullpen, or perhaps another starting pitcher? For free agents, it is a matter of dollars — millions of dollars. But in trades, it is the quid pro quo of value given in return for value received.
The Dodgers are 2020 World Champions; they will not tear apart the core of the team that dominated in the regular and postseasons, winning almost 72% of games played. Pitchers Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Julio Urías; and position players Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Corey Seager, and Will Smith are not available. To trade young players like pitchers Brusdar Graterol, Victor Gonzalez, Tony Gonsolin, or infielder Gavin Lux would require a significant return coming back to the Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Tom Pennington)
In addition to those listed above, the team has an abundance of left-handed hitters: Matt Beaty, Zach McKinstry, Luke Raley, Zach Reks, and Edwin Rios; a total of nine on the 40 man roster. And young pitching is always in demand, so Edwin Uceta, Josh Sborz, Dennis Santana, and Andre Jackson may be on the radar of other teams.
But what about the Dodgers prospects? Are there any prospects that Friedman considers to be untouchable in trade discussions? Not likely, but he isn’t going to share that information – one way or the other – publicly. Candidly, while the team has a wonderful group of prospects moving through the minor league system, there are no Cody Bellingers, Corey Seagers, Walker Buehlers, or Clayton Kershaws to be found.
MLB Pipeline and Fangraphs have starting pitcher Josiah Gray (23-years old) and catcher Keibert Ruiz (22) as the Dodgers’ top prospects and are in agreement that second baseman Michael Busch (23) is in the top 4. Gray is projected to be a Major League-ready starting pitcher as soon as 2021. The only thing holding back Busch is his defensive position; his offense is considered Major League-ready. The luster of Ruiz star has faded over the last couple of years and is the most likely of the three to be traded when – or if – the right trade offer is presented.
* * *
Dodgers Top Prospects
(Combined MLB Pipeline and Fangraphs list with current age):
Pitchers:
- Josiah Gray (23)
- Ryan Pepiot (23)
- Clayton Beeter (22)
- Bobby Miller (21)
- Mitchell White (26)
Catchers:
- Keibert Ruiz (22)
- Diego Cartaya (19)
Infielders:
- Michael Busch (23)
- Jacob Amaya (22)
- Kody Hoese (23)
Outfielders:
- Andy Pages (20)
- Luis Rodriguez (21)
* * * *
Which of these players could be traded? As always, it depends on the return to the Dodgers. Personally, I believe it will take an all-star-caliber player coming to the Dodgers for them to trade Josiah Gray, Diego Cartaya, Michael Busch, or Luis Rodriguez.
What do you think Dodgers fans; do you consider any of these youngsters ‘untouchable?’
* * * * * *
Posted in 
With (yet-to-be-confirmed) reports that the Dodgers have re-acquired veteran catcher Tim Federowicz on Wednesday, there is zero doubt in my mind that Keibert Ruiz is now VERY touchable.
…if those reports are true, that is.
The pipeline has shown that promoting minor leaguers can be as much of an upgrade as signing free agents. Especially past season with May, Gonsolin and Gonzalez all making impacts on the staff.
As Jesse mentioned, I don’t think they trade many (or any) top prospects for a lateral move. They’d have to bring back a substantial upgrade somehow.
Of the guys listed, I’d think Gray, Beeter, Cartaya, Pages and Busch would be on my no trade list. By the fangraphs rankings, LA has a ton of guys projected to be capable major leaguers.
Not a ton of places to seriously look for an upgrade by trade, where a reasonable substitute could be signed in FA. Hader? Just sign Hand. A starter? Maybe sign Bauer. Ha-Seong Kim or Marcus Semium could replace Kike on the infield.
Matt Chapman would be a target to me. Lux and Ruiz might get the conversation started. Oakland probably doesn’t want to replay the Donaldson trade though.
You really do your homework; KUDOS. According to Fangraphs, Beeter may be the next “untouchable” in the minor league system. Pages could become the next great power hitter for the Dodgers, but he must first cut down on his strikeouts. From what I have read, the 17-year old OF’er Rodriguez has all the talent in the world and an exceptionally hard worker with great attitude. As we have discussed, Kim is at the top of our FA lists for Dodgers to sign. For me, Semien in a one year wonder whose stats in other years are middling, or below. Remember that 1999 was the year of the juiced ball. Dodgers re-sign Turner and add Kim, I am all-in on Zach McKinstry filling the Hernandez utility role.
Just for fun
Gonsolin Pollock joe Kelly to the Yankees for Giancarlo Stanton. Yanks save payroll get starting pitcher outfielder and reliever.
Just for fun, replace Gonsolin with David Price and Yankees will still say yes. Can Stanton stay healthy enough to play LF?
Are you two rehashing an old Ned Colletti planbook?
LOL! Nope, just trying to endure a very, very, very slow Hot Stove league.
Fair enough…
Just thinking out-loud here…If Fed Ex has been added to the catching corps??? Is he here for depth? To teach the kids better defense and skills needed to advance? Who would that be if so, Ruiz ir the youngster behind him? Or will someone get traded? Barnes has the best skillset as a mature back/up, but Ruiz has been denoted top prospect status?
Fedex replaces Rocky Gale as the emergency catcher who can step in at the ML level should Barnes, or Smith be unavailable. He would be a good mentor for Ruiz, or Steve Berman, or Hunter Feduccia at OKC. I believe Ruiz could be traded in the next few days.
Thinking out-loud continued…If teams lost a bunch of money in 2020/ would 2021 be a good time for tge Dodgers to offer up some of their depth to teams that will be hard-pressed to bounce back so quickly. Should they find a player that fits the dream to better the teams future as well as help them repeat as World Series champs for the organizations first time?
Yes, I think the Dodgers could be opportunistic when it comes to acquiring players from teams that are not as financially sound – A’s, Pirates, Rays, Reds come to mind. Perhaps a player as good as Matt Chapman from the A’s might be in the Dodgers radar for several prospects. Rays have already indicated that they are open to trading Blake Snell who will be paid $39M over the next three seasons. Reds have put Sonny Gray on the trade market to try and reduce payroll.
Thanks, Jesse. I was thinking big, not inexpensive due to the opportunity (years of uncertainty vs days) and leverage. I value your input, thanks for the thought-line.
Not that I wouldn’t take an inexpensive option as Stevebendodger suggested, as arms do break.
Gray would be cheaper than Snell.
If we are giving up guys like Ruiz orLux we would need to bring a player that is controllable or under contract for 2-3 yrs minimum.
When fans are allowed to come back – no holds barred. The Dodgers will most likely get back to attendance as usual.
They locked up Mookie for a number of years. I wouldn’t mind seeing them do this again, given the resources and opportunity. Maybe not with an arm, unless it was a very, very young arm that could be rehabilitated such as Buehler was.