December 9th, 2020 at 11:00 am 
by 0799291000348 The 2020 MLB Winter Meetings have gone silent. In place of wandering the hallways, suites, bars, and meeting rooms at the Omni Dallas Hotel and Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas in Dallas, the well-known purveyors of baseball suppositions and rumors have been left grasping for any morsel of gossip available on Twitter, Instagram, Snap, or surreptitious phone calls with reliable sources. These are times that try the egos of baseball journalists like Ken Rosenthal, Jeff Passan, Buster Olney, John Morosi, et al.; nothing to write about or discuss live on MLB TV.
As all Dodgers fans know, the team is usually at the forefront of Winter Meeting rumors when the top free agents are being discussed or when baseball’s star players are reportedly being dangled by their current team in trade discussions. This Hot Stove season is no different, albeit quieter, with the team recently crowned World Champions and the pandemic having a significant impact on the finances of all 30 teams.
Although the rumors are sparse, the Dodgers are generally floated as a team of interest whenever a highly regarded free agent name comes up in conversation. However, as much as player agents want the Dodgers to participate in a bidding war for their respective clients, the team is more likely concerned with re-signing one or more of its own free agents (Kiké Hernandez, Jake McGee, Joc Pederson, Blake Treinen, and Justin Turner); and a contract extension for shortstop and World Series MVP Corey Seager.
Should the Dodgers make a free agent splash in the days or weeks to come, it will more likely be 31-year old starting pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (posted by his NPB team) than soon-to-be (on January 17) 30-year old North Hollywood, CA native Trevor Bauer; or 25-year old middle infielder Ha-Seong Kim (posted by his KBO team) than 32-year old second baseman DJ LeMahieu.
The Dodgers may be more inclined to strengthen the 2021 roster through trades than expensive free-agent signings. Consider how many left-hand-hitting position players are on the current roster: Matt Beaty, Cody Bellinger, Gavin Lux, Zach McKinstry, Max Muncy, Luke Raley, Zach Reks, Edwin Rios, and Keibert Ruiz (switch hitter); and the Dodgers best hitting prospect is another lefty hitter, infielder Michael Busch. And, the depth of quality pitching prospects is unsurpassed in MLB.
When players like Nolan Arenado, Kris Bryant, Sonny Gray, Josh Hader, Francisco Lindor, and Blake Snell are mentioned as available in trade, the Dodgers are immediately linked by baseball pundits as a potential trade partner. So, with very quiet Winter Meetings, let’s gather around the Hot Stove and consider a couple of plausible (or crazy) trade scenarios for the Dodgers.
We have already considered schemes that could place either Arenado or Bryant on to the Dodgers 2021 roster. So, let’s start with a need at the top of Andrew Friedman’s to-do list: a late-inning reliever, preferably left-handed. The Brewers Josh Hader is rumored to be available as Milwaukee attempts to shed payroll and fill other roster needs. Reportedly, the Brewers must add at least one corner infielder and improve at catching and pitching. A package of Matt Beaty, Keibert Ruiz, and Dennis Santana may be enough to put Hader in the Dodgers bullpen.
If the Dodgers do not add Arenado, or Bryant, or Kim to the roster, a trade with the New York Yankees for Gleyber Torres would solve the need for an additional right-handed hitter. Perhaps a trade that is more crazy than plausible would be this three-way deal between the Dodgers, Yankees, and Cleveland Indians:
- Dodgers acquire second baseman Gleyber Torres and mid-level infield/outfield prospect Trevor Hauver from the Yankees;
- Yankees acquire shortstop Francisco Lindor from the Indians, and outfielder/first baseman Matt Beaty from the Dodgers; and,
- Indians acquire Gavin Lux and outfield prospect DJ Peters from the Dodgers, and shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza from the Yankees.
Why not trade with the Indians for Lindor rather than Torres? I think the Dodgers will sign Seager to an extension to be their shortstop for the foreseeable future. And, Torres will add the right-handed bat the Dodgers need in the middle of the lineup.
What do you think, Dodgers fans? What trades do you think the team will make? Blake Snell? Sonny Gray?
(Photo credit – Mike Carlson)
Stoke the Hot Stove fires and let us know what you would do to round out the Dodgers 2021 roster if you were sitting in The Big Chair.
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A Seager extension would be a nice cherry on top of the 2020 season for LA! I think it’s going to have to start with a 2 and have 9 digits to get Boras to answer the phone though. Jeter had $189 million for 10 years a long time ago. Arenado or Rendon deals might be a starting point.
That deal for Torres would probably be pretty close to workable. Sting just enough losing Lux to possibly make it worthwhile for Cleveland. And New York sort swapping Torres for Lindor would balance their lineup and improve defense.
DJLM would probably be an upgrade over Turner. He could play 2nd or 3rd, and LA could get Rios and Lux at bats as well.
My guess is if that trade for Hader is what it would take, Friedman would possibly just sign Hand for a deal similar to what Trevor May got. It be similar $$ as Hader without giving up prospects.
However you slice it, Dodgers roster is strong. The depth and versatility of the present group ought to let Friedman make an upgrade anywhere except maybe catcher or outfield. Farm system is still deep, so dealing Ruiz or Gray wouldn’t be the end of the world. A high team ranking on league wide farm system strength is nice, and helpful for sustainable competitiveness. But it’s not quite as important as winning at the major league level.
As always, a good analysis. I think the Dodgers would offer an 8 year deal, between $216M and $224M with no opt out. But Seager/Boras may want a shorter deal with Seager getting another shot at free agency after 4, or 5 years. The only way I see the Dodgers trading Lux is if they are certain Seager will sign an extension. The reports on second baseman Michael Busch are very positive, so frees up Lux for trade — or, a move to the OF which would give the Dodgers a great OF. I don’t think the Dodgers will meet DJLM contract expectations, I believe he will re-sign with the Yankees. I am a fan of Hand, but the decline in fastball velocity is concerning. I am 100% confident that the Dodgers will have a strong roster for 2021 and beyond.
The Hot Stove is not lit yet.
The World Champion Dodgers are clear favorites to repeat.
How bout David Price to the Yanks with Dodgers getting a prospect from the Yanks that Tampa wants, and flipping that prospect Gonsolin and Beatty to Tampa for Snell. Tampa may want our catching prospect switch hitter thrown in to seal the deal.
That is a terrific Hot Stove trade scenario. Price is only owed $15 or $16M in each of the next two seasons, so the Yankees should be willing to send a couple of good prospects to the Dodgers in return. Snell owed $13M per season for next 3 years, Dodgers come out with a better starter at slightly less money per year. Dodgers would likely have to sign another starter, perhaps the NPB pitcher who was recently posted – Tomoyuki Sagano. Rays looking for catching help, will likely want Ruiz in place of Beaty.
Buehler Kershaw Snell Urias May could be best rotation in baseball history. Would certainly be up there.
That would be a fun topic to chat about; best starting rotations in LA Dodgers history (Brooklyn could be a separate topic). The 1965 four man rotation of Koufax, Drysdale, Osteen, and Podres was great. Their respective ERA’s were: 2.04, 2.77, 2.79, and 3.43; holding hitters to a combined .612 OPS. Of course that was at a time when pitching throughout MLB dominated. In 1966 Podres was replaced in the rotation by 21 year old Don Sutton who had a 2.99 ERA as a rookie. In 1968 the team had an awesome foursome: Drysdale (2.15), Sutton (2.60), Bill Singer (2.88), and Osteen (3.08).