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Imagine a world where the Dodgers land one of these trades at the deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 27: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 27, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 27: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles bats against the Seattle Mariners at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 27, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 02: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds runs the bases during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park on July 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 5-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 02: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds runs the bases during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Great American Ball Park on July 2, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Reds won 5-3. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

3. Scooter Gennett

If the Dodgers do not end up pulling off a trade for Manny Machado, that does not mean they will not trade for infield depth. There are many moving parts in this team’s lineup, and the injury to Yasiel Puig could be spun forward into a trade for an infielder with Chris Taylor moving back to center field. Feel-good story Max Muncy has been playing second base, but can also play all over the diamond.

If the Dodgers are going to look at adding an infield bat that isn’t Machado, they should make their primary target Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett, who has become a legitimate power threat over the past two years. Gennett continues to prove his four-homer explosion last year was no fluke. The 28-year-old just made his first All-Star team and is hitting .322/.366/.509 on the year with 20 doubles, 14 home runs and 58 RBI. On a better team, he is an MVP candidate, not just an All-Star.

The Dodgers are also looking at options for second base that would not come at a prohibitive cost of prospects. Brian Dozier is another solid option to consider, and is on an expiring contract. The Kansas City Royals may also be open to dealing Whit Merrifield, who is under long-term control.

Gennett will not be an easy acquisition, and the Reds may not even make him fully available. He is an upgrade over second basemen Chase Utley and Logan Forsythe, but the Dodgers do have enough depth to work with. A rental like Machado does make more sense with Seager expected to return next year, but they will at least consider the second-base market.

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