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In professional sports, any player that a team will not consider trading is labeled ‘Untouchable’.

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Thanks to an exceptionally robust player development program and the acquisition acumen of Andrew Friedman (President Baseball Operations), Los Angeles Dodgers fans are accustomed to untouchable players on the roster or progressing through the team’s minor league pipeline.

Future Hall of Fame pitcher Clayton Kershaw moved into the untouchable category in 2008 when he was an 18-year-old phenom pitching for the Gulf Coast Dodgers rookie team. Later, can’t-miss prospects like Corey Seager (2012), Cody Bellinger (2013), and Walker Buehler (2015) elevated their status into the rare air of untouchable. Of course, some of the team’s can’t-miss prospects fell well short of expectations: Zach Lee, Yadier Alvarez, and Jeren Kendall are recent examples. Today’s high-profile prospect may become tomorrow’s trade chip.

The owners’ collective bargaining tactic of locking out the players has temporarily halted the Major League 2022 roster tweaking. Nonetheless, the Dodgers World Series aspirations for coming seasons will be built around five veteran players who are presumed untouchable (2022 ages in parenthesis): catcher Will Smith (27), veteran outfielder Mookie Betts (30), and starting pitchers Walker Buehler (28), Dustin May (25) – currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, and Julio Urias (26). Trading any one of that core group is unimaginable, and it could be expanded to six once the Dodgers are allowed to negotiate a contract extension with shortstop Trea Turner (29), or sign free agent shortstop Carlos Correa (28).

The hard reality of Major League Baseball is that roster change is inevitable. On average, a career lasts less than six years, ending before the player reaches free agency. Father time, free agency, injuries, and poor choices can undermine a team’s roster very quickly, even the Dodgers. Pitcher David Price and popular third baseman Justin Turner will be 37 years old during the 2022 season, pitcher Daniel Hudson 35, outfielder AJ Pollock and pitcher Blake Treinen 34; if re-signed, Kershaw will also be 34. After the season, the team has five players eligible for free agency (Price, Trea Turner, catcher Austin Barnes, pitchers Andrew Heaney and Tommy Kahlne) have team options in 2023 and on four other players (Justin Turner, Treinen, Hudson, and first baseman Max Muncy) that they may, or may not exercise. There is no way to predict specific injuries or poor choices by players, but the fact remains that they happen, and good teams rely on their prospects in order to compete.

The Dodgers are well-positioned for 2022, and beyond, with highly regarded prospects looking to earn their way onto the Major League roster. Even though the team included their two top prospects for 2021, catcher Keibert Ruiz and pitcher Josiah Gray, in the trade to acquire Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer and All-Star shortstop Trea Turner, the pipeline remains powerful as players prepare to be the next man up.

Baseball America (subscription required) recently published its Top-10 Dodgers prospects for 2022 (current age; projected year for ML debut in parenthesis):

1. Catcher Diego Cartaya (20; 2023)
2. Starting pitcher Bobby Miller (22; 2022)
3. Corner infielder Miguel Vargas (22; 2022)
4. 2B/1B/LF Michael Busch (24; 2022)
5. Starting pitcher Ryan Pepiot (24; 2022)
6. Corner outfielder Andy Pages (21; 2023)
7. Starting pitcher Landon Knack (24; 2022)
8. Middle infielder Eddys Leonard (21; 2024)
9. Relief pitcher Andre Jackson (25; 2021)
10. Shortstop Wilmer Diaz (18; 2025)

Baseball America included the Dodgers’ top five prospects in its annual list of the Top-100 MLB prospects: Cartaya (23), Miller (38), Vargas (40), Busch (76), and Pepiot (99); and, Pages barely missed the cutoff. MLB Pipeline agrees with nine of the ten prospects, replacing Leonard with 23-year-old pitcher Clayton Beeter.

So, which prospects might be considered untouchable in trade discussions with other teams? According to current scouting reports, Cartaya is projected to be a gold glove quality catcher, and middle of line-up hitter, while Miller should be a number 1, or 2 starting pitcher. They are both special players, counted upon to be Dodgers rather than trade capital.

While Vargas and Busch are considered exceptional hitters, both are marginal defensive players at third base and second base respectively. Both appear to be better suited for first base, or perhaps left field. If, as expected, the universal designated hitter rule is added to the renewal collective bargaining agreement, hitters like Vargas and Busch will become even more valuable to the Dodgers. Should teams inquire about either player in trade discussions, the Dodgers would likely listen, but demand a significant player(s) in return.

Similarly, while the reports on Pepiot, Knack, and Beeter are a step back from Miller, they are extremely talented pitching prospects, and projected to become ML starting pitchers; no team can have too much pitching. Acquiring one of these young pitchers would also require a significant return to the Dodgers.

Who will be the next untouchable Dodgers prospect(s)? To be determined, as we watch players progress through the team’s minor league system. There are a few names you should look for as your peruse 2022 minor league box scores and statistics: pitchers Maddux Bruns, Gavin Stone, and Kendall Williams; catchers Carson Taylor and Jesus Galiz; infielders Eddys Leonard and Wilmer Diaz; and outfielders Jose Ramos, Luis Rodriguez, and Jake Vogel. Some will elevate their game, others may struggle, but if they have the talent and determination to succeed the Dodgers development staff will prepare them for success.

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