November 20th, 2024 at 8:00 am 
by Jesse Pearce Over many decades, there were certain players coming through the Dodgers development pipeline who were considered ‘untouchable’ – those prospects that the team would not even consider trading because of their high potential to become MLB stars; names like Tommy Davis, Steve Garvey, Don Sutton, Fernando Valenzuela, Mike Piazza, Adrian Beltre, Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Julio Urías, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler (among others) who were the elite players the team designated as the core pieces to build around for future championships.
What about 2025? Are there any Dodgers prospects considered to be untouchable in trades as the team builds the roster toward another World Championship? MLB Pipeline includes four Dodgers prospects in their Top-100: catcher/outfielder Dalton Rushing (ranked 39th), outfielder Josue De Paula (48th), shortstop Alex Freeland (70th), and left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris (78th). Are these players untouchable in the same sense as Kershaw, Seager, et al?
While it may seem to be equivocating, the answer is – It depends.
While ‘It depends’ could be said of all top prospects, the next few seasons (2025 through 2027 in particular) will be prime seasons for the Dodgers to dominate the World Series before age, injuries, and contract status start to impact the team’s core. Kershaw will retire sooner than later, and Freddie Freeman and Tyler Glasnow will be eligible for free agency after the 2027 season. Mooke Betts and Teoscar Hernández (if he re-signs) will be 35 during the 2028 season, and Will Smith will be 33.
The Dodgers are building for future championships now. Should they have the opportunity to trade for players like Chicago White Sox left handed pitcher Garrett Crochet and center fielder Luis Robert Jr., or Seattle Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez, some combination of Rushing, De Paula, Freeland, and/or Ferris could be considered as valuable trade pieces, not untouchable prospects.
What sets apart Crochet, Robert Jr., and Rodriguez is the combination of their talent, ages (25, 26, and 23 respectively), salary, immediate team control, and filling Dodgers needs now and in the future. In addition, all are young and talented enough to receive lucrative, long term deals.
Trading a couple of their top prospects will not have a significant impact to the Dodgers future as the team is loaded with talented players who are making their way up the organization.
Infielders Joendry Vargas, Emil Morales, and Kellon Lindsey are hugely talented players, as are outfielders Eduardo Quintero, Zyhir Hope, and catchers Diego Cartaya (a former untouchable), Hunter Feduccia, and Jesus Galiz. Of course, the Dodgers pitching pipeline is overflowing with talent.
Untouchables?
It depends!
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Another outstanding and thought-provoking piece, Jesse. Thanks!
Interesting piece. For me it brings up the question of WHEN do they decide to let a previously untouchable player become, well, touchable! Tradeable. Perhaps sacrificing some present value so as not to hamper the development of a nearly-ready prospect or to have to consider trading him away so as not to “waste” his value?
For example, when do they decide to consider trading a still very productive Will Smith to possibly allow a Dalton Rushing, a resurgent Diego Cartaya (IF he does become what he once promised) a Hunter Feduccia or Jesus Galiz to take his place? OR instead how do they decide which players are allowed to become lifetime Dodgers ala Kershaw?
Great questions and points.
My personal opinion, there are no prospects who are literally untouchable, it comes down to what the team can get in return. Just one, extreme example using Corey Seager (one of my favorite Dodgers prospects). In 2014-15 I feel certain that the Dodgers would have traded their young, untouchable prospect in return for Mike Trout, or Bryce Harper. In that regard, Clayton Kershaw may be the only prospect who was never going to be traded, regardless of the return.
Perhaps you remember the old Dodgers executive Branch Rickey. I think it was back in the 1940’s when he said that it is better to trade a player a year too soon than a year too late. Rickey viewed players as commodities who could/should be traded before their value decreased.
One of my granddaughters would be devastated if the team ever trades Will Smith, but the position he plays is so physically demanding that within the next couple of years (or possibly sooner) the foul tips into his mask, the constant knee bending, bruises from 100 mph fastballs will have significantly impacted his ability to play the position — he will not be the Dodgers catcher through the entirety of his contract. But, do the Dodgers trade him in the next couple of years with Rushing, Cartaya, or ??? taking over, or does the team preemptively move Smith to another position — perhaps left field, or even third base?
I think you opened up a line of discussion.
We have teams that have loads of money and can trade prospects for established players from teams that don’t have the ability to spend the money and compete against the big boys but can develop prospect’s and get 4 to 5 good yrs from them and trade them and restart the process.
Exactly. Some teams are much better at it than others, but the process is sound.
JP
I just saw an article about the Dodgers trading for Correa. Was the writer asleep in 2017,18,19 and 20.? Dodgers fans would not be happy with him on the team.
Also please Friedman stay away from the staring, shuffling, clown in the batters box.
We don’t need him on our team.
Yes, I read a summary of the article. Typical Bleacher Report horse pucky that makes no sense. Why would Dodgers take on that awful contract when they can likely have Adames for less money, better fielder, and a good clubhouse guy.