The Dodgers are considered the benchmark against which other MLB teams measure themselves in the acquisition of young talent and development of those players into major league prospects. Whether those prospects become Dodgers or used in trades for veteran players is the responsibility of Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and his talented staff. Likely, this is an ongoing assessment process that is under constant scrutiny to assure that no player is over or under valued.

Dodgers fans know the names of the team’s elite prospects: pitcher Bobby Miller, catcher Diego Cartaya, infielder Michael Busch, outfielder Andy Pages, and pitcher Gavin Stone. The names become less familiar as one reads through the Top-30 lists, but there are gems to be found amongst those players, and those who have not been included on any list.

As the 2023 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Dodgers decision makers must make some choices; keep them, or trade them.

For example, what to do with 26-year-old catcher Hunter Feduccia. Is he ready to replace .104-hitting Austin Barnes as the backup catcher, or should he be used as trade capital to acquire veteran help for the 2023 stretch drive?

Drafted by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2018 MLB entry draft, the left-handed-hitting catcher has never been considered a Top-30 prospect (Fangraphs doesn’t even have him on their top 50), and he went unclaimed by the other 29 MLB teams in the December 2022 Rule 5 Draft. But the catcher from Lake Charles, LA had an attention-grabbing 2023 Spring Training, slashing .348/.483/.696/1.179 while deftly handling the pitching staff. At Triple-A Oklahoma City, Feduccia has continued his offensive breakout, slashing .309/.422/.508/.930.

With many MLB teams looking for catching help, Feduccia will not be by-passed in the 2023 Rule 5 draft. The Dodgers will either add him to their 40-man roster or trade him. Which will it be? Although the answer could come within the next three weeks, it will not be a shock if a catching-needy team makes a trade offer for Feduccia that the Dodgers simply cannot refuse.

With injuries to outfielder Trayce Thompson, super-utility player Chris Taylor, and the disappointing offensive performance of rookie second baseman Miguel Vargas, the Dodgers are reportedly in the market for a hitter who bats from the right side and punishes left-handed pitching. Rookie outfielder Jonny Deluca has had initial success in that role (.891 OPS against left-handed pitching), but over an extremely small sample size of only 23 plate appearances.

But even if Deluca continues to produce well, the team could still add another right-handed hitter. The team’s number six prospect, Andy Pages, may have been a fit for that role, but shoulder surgery in early June prematurely ended his 2023 season. But there is another internal candidate that Friedman should consider for that role – infielder/outfielder Devin Mann.

Mann’s prospect status is similar to that of Feduccia. He, too, is 26 years old, drafted in 2018 (fifth round) but never included in the team’s Top-30 prospect list. He was passed over in the 2022 Rule 5 Draft and has seemingly been ignored even though he has averaged an impressive .839 OPS in his Dodgers minor league career. Mann, like Feduccia, hit a developmental roadblock in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the minor league season. When baseball returned in 2021, the Dodgers uncharacteristically skipped the High-A ball progression step and moved Mann to Double-A Tulsa, where he had a mediocre year (.786 OPS). He performed much better in the 2022 season, splitting his time between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City, averaging an impressive .844 OPS.

Mann fits the role of utility player, having played every infield position and left field for the 2023 OKC Dodgers; slashing .322/.418/.589/1.007. His slash line is even more impressive against left-handed pitching (.333/.418/.652/1.070).

Like Feduccia, Mann will likely not be passed over again when the 2023 Rule 5 draft is held in six months. The Dodgers will either add him to their 40-man roster or trade him.

Which will it be? The answer could come in the next three weeks, or after the season.

Feduccia and/or Mann. Are they roster asset(s) or trade capital?

What do you think Dodgers fans?

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