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Dodgers: Ranking the Most Expendable Top Prospects

By Cesar Becerra

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger /
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Feb 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers and catchers run drills during the first day of camp at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Yadier Alvarez, Starting Pitcher

Alvarez finds himself on the list because he’ll more than likely be the name that comes up in any trade conversation that involves a key player. Alvarez is ranked as the Dodgers number 1 overall prospect in their farm system according to MLB Pipeline.

The reason why Alvarez finds himself at third and not first is that I doubt the Dodgers would part ways with the young right-hander. Although Many consider him to be the best Dodger pitcher in the farm system, I believe Walker Buehler should be more untouchable than Alvarez.

But what Alvarez brings is huge potential. With a fastball that sits at 94-97 MPH and could touch triple digits the superstar potential is there. Alvarez also works his secondary pitches well to help complement his overpowering fastballs which lead to high strikeout totals.

In his first full season at Advanced-A with the Dodgers, Alvarez is averaging a little over a strikeout per inning (54:52) through nine starts. His ERA (5.05) and record (2-4) show some red flags, but with the Dodgers’ history of developing pitchers in their farm system, they would be crazy to cut bait with him this young into his career. To show how serious the Dodgers were about Alvarez, they gave him a $16m bonus when signing him in the 2015 International market.

Alvarez is going to be in high demand if the Dodgers look to make a big splash. He has the potential to be the next Stephen Strasburg and has plenty of time to develop into the pitcher the Dodgers think he can be. However, like the Dodgers recently found out with Julio Urias’ injury, developing and protecting pitchers are always a crap shoot.

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