Dodgers Rumors: Ranking the Best Trade Candidates

Four days until the Non-Waiver Trade Deadline. The Dodgers, Nationals, and Cubs are looking across the country for top-end starting pitching. The Dodgers have also looked into relievers. Out of all the names thrown out there, which are the best?

Amidst all the rumors, three aces were drawn. Yu Darvish, Sonny Gray, and Justin Verlander are the three biggest starting pitchers on the market. The Dodgers were in on all of them until Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network reported that the Dodgers are no longer interested in acquiring Justin Verlander. In the long-run, it may serve well since Verlander has a massive contract and is into his mid-30s.

The relievers the Dodgers have been looking at include: Brad Hand, Addison Reed, Jerry Blevins, Justin Wilson, and Zach Britton. When the Britton rumors first emerged, everyone in the baseball world shuddered at a potential Britton/Jansen combination in the back end of an already dominant bullpen, including Jansen. However, the Orioles don’t seem to be sold on selling this year. Britton’s also not done very well since coming off the DL, giving up six runs in nine innings.

With these new developments, the rankings will exclude Verlander and Britton. However, even if they were available to the Dodgers, they probably wouldn’t have made the list. Another name that won’t make the list at the moment is Brad Hand. Whether it’s strategic or not, the Padres have expressed they aren’t looking to deal Hand. However, they told teams without saying a word that Hand wasn’t available with their unreasonable asking price.

4. Lance Lynn and/or a reliever

This wasn’t mentioned above and has hardly been mentioned in the rumor mill. It’s highly unlikely to happen which is why it’s not higher on the list. The Cardinals are in that weird place of severely underperforming but still technically in reach of a playoff berth. For the Cardinals to salvage this season, they cannot sit with what they have, whether that means buying or selling. However, with the Cubs and Pirates finding their strides, they may be more inclined to sell.

Lance Lynn is a proven winner, collecting at least 12 wins since 2012. He also has a lot of postseason experience with the Cardinals. It’s not a good experience, but it’s experience. Adding Lynn would provide a stable right-handed arm who has stuff good enough for tougher competition. Lynn is a free agent after this year, so he’d be a rental as well. But since the Cardinals already have a sufficient amount of prospects, he shouldn’t be too expensive. What might make the deal pricier is if a reliever like Trevor Rosenthal or Seung-hwan Oh is added. The two are closer-material that could serve alongside Pedro Baez, so he isn’t used every day in October.

3. Yu Darvish

Although Darvish is arguably the best starting pitcher on this list, he’s not the best trade candidate. First off, the Rangers haven’t committed to selling him yet, so he may not even be available. Second, he’s a free agent after this season meaning the Dodgers would likely give up at least one of their top prospects for a rental. A rental, who has trouble finding the strike zone at times and has only reached 30 starts in a season once.He boasted a 3.44 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and averaged close to 10 strikeouts every nine innings until his worst start ever against the Marlins. In 3.2 innings he gave up ten runs on nine hits.

However, the Dodgers’ starting rotation currently only has Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood who’ve proven they have swing and miss stuff. Rich Hill is getting plenty of swings and misses right now, but last season’s postseason proved he’s more suited to paint corners than blowing it by people. Adding Darvish would give the Dodgers a right-handed arm with swing and miss stuff. Of course, the reason why this is number three is that it’s very unlikely the conservative Dodgers’ front office will deal away their top prospects for a rental. Though perhaps his rough start before the deadline will lower his value.

2. Justin Wilson

Since Britton and Hand seem to be off the market, Wilson is the best option at a late-inning, power lefty. Wilson would give the Dodgers another option to call on in the eighth inning and lighten the load for Baez. Aroldis Chapman wasn’t the best with the Cubs, but he did make an impact. Wilson could be that guy for the Dodgers. Him being left-handed also gives Dave Roberts the option of using him to get big outs in the late innings. Although, interestingly Wilson does better against righties than lefties.

Wilson would be number one on this list if he came over with Verlander and the Tigers ate some of Verlander’s massive contract. However, that doesn’t look likely as the Tigers aim to shed some of their larger financial entanglements. That being said, they will probably try to maximize the returns on their last enticing trade piece. Giving away top prospects is not worth a reliever who is eligible for arbitration after the season. One sign of hope for a worthy deal is that the Tigers traded J.D. Martinez to the Diamondbacks relatively cheaply.

1. Sonny Gray

Brandon McCarthy’s certainly earned a spot in the playoff rotation, but with his lingering blister issue, his consistency is questionable. Other than Kershaw and Hill, the Dodgers had no other starter who can give them more than four solid innings. This year they have Alex Wood to go along with the other two, but adding a dependable right-handed arm to mix in with three left-handers would settle nerves and make a statement that the Dodgers are all-in.

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It could also potentially break the Dodgers’ curse of failing to advance in a seven-game series, where four wins are needed. The issue with only having three dependable arms is it can allow the opposition back into the series. Adding that extra arm can shut down the series, and perhaps save Kershaw for Game 1 of the next series.

Now back to Sonny Gray. The reason why he ranks ahead of Darvish, despite Darvish having better stuff, is he’s under control through 2019. In addition, contrary to Darvish, Gray’s done better as the season’s progressed. In their last five starts, Gray’s lowered his ERA from 4.45 to 3.43, while Darvish raised his from 3.11 to 4.01. Unfortunately, the Dodgers have tough competition from the Yankees and the Astros, which may drive up the value. But, if the Dodgers were to go all-in, it would be this year and on this player.

The Dodgers are building a magical season. 71 wins in just 102 games, 28 comeback wins, and leading baseball in almost every significant category. They’re in a rare position where they hold the best record in baseball, and one of the best farm systems as well. It makes sense why the front office doesn’t want to trade away their top prospects. However, Los Angeles has been in dire need of a championship.

Next: Taylor is Here to Stay

Last year, it made sense not going all-in at the trade deadline for a starting pitcher because there virtually was no market. However, now that the market has deepened it’s time to go all-in. If not this year, then when?