Fansided

5 teams expected to be active on the MLB trade market

By Sean Sears

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after the Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 5-4 at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - SEPTEMBER 29: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox looks on after the Red Sox defeat Baltimore Orioles 5-4 at Fenway Park on September 29, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Gavin Lux #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hugs Manager Dave Roberts #30 during player introductions prior to Game 3 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 06: Gavin Lux #48 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hugs Manager Dave Roberts #30 during player introductions prior to Game 3 of the NLDS between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 6, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

5. Are the Dodgers willing to move prospects to acquire another star?

The Dodgers’ general manager Andrew Friedman has historically never spent big on free agents, dating back to his days in the Tampa Bay Rays’ front office. However, that didn’t stop him from pursuing top free agents right-hander Gerrit Cole and third baseman Anthony Rendon this winter. Clearly, the Dodgers swung and missed on both, which makes sense since Los Angeles isn’t a team that needs Rendon or Cole, the Yankees and Angels did.

The Dodgers are now left with options in free agency that brings an elite-level player to their roster, but the trade market does. Gavin Lux and Dustin May sit atop of the Dodger’s prospect list for MLB Pipeline and both could be used to acquire a top talent like outfielder Mookie Betts or shortstop Francisco Lindor. However, Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com says the Dodgers may be reluctant to include their top two prospects and points towards LA’s third-best prospect catcher Kiebert Ruiz after Will Smith’s breakout year in 2019.

Bob Nightengale from USA Today also reported earlier this week that the Red Sox and Dodgers were engaged in trade talks involving Mookie Betts, which includes shortstop Corey Seager. Nightengale also mentions that teams are showing interest Will Smith, so both their top catching options could command a solid return, the question now becomes do the Dodgers want to part with young, controllable talent to possibly push this club to the next level?

The interest is surely there from other teams should they be able to acquire either Betts or Lindor, and with only two players on the roster signed through 2021, this is the time for the Dodgers to spend their resources.

Home/MLB