3 trades the Dodgers can make to repeat as World Series champions in 2021

The Los Angeles Dodgers need to stay active if they want to repeat as champions.

The Los Angeles Dodgers came so close to ending their World Series drought over the last few years, but they finally pushed all the right buttons in 2020, taking down the Tampa Bay Rays in six games to take home the franchise’s seventh World Series title.

The Dodgers were only able to get over the hump by trading for a superstar in Mookie Betts, so Andrew Friedman needs to stay active on the trade market this offseason.

3. Trade an outfielder, move Chris Taylor out there full-time, let Gavin Lux handle second

The Dodgers won’t be able to retain everyone from their title-winning squad, and the possibility of both Joc Pederson and Kike Hernandez leaving in free agency is staring them right in the face. However, they do have some in-house options to replace him, most notably AJ Pollock and Chris Taylor. The best move for the Dodgers in the short and long-term might be ditching the aging Pollock via trade and allowing the much less expensive Taylor to take over left field duties. With second base open, Gavin Lux could finally get his time to shine.

Lux was at the top of the Dodgers’ fantastic farm system, but his bat hasn’t come along as quickly as his defense given his .210 average and five home runs during his 42-game MLB career. While the early returns haven’t been very encouraging, Lux’s raw talent is up there with any player under the age of 23 in the game, and the Dodgers need to throw him into the fire eventually.

Losing Pederson and Hernandez will be a deep cut to that locker room, but they can be replaced on the field with Taylor in left and Lux at second.