Dodgers: Starting Pitchers to Acquire via Trade

This offseason leaves a lot to be desired in the free agent starting pitching market. There are a few big fish available via trade, but a significant drop off after that. That means the best upgrades for the Dodgers starting rotation may come via trade. Here are a few starting pitchers that could be acquired through a trade this offseason.

The two big arms available in free agency are Jake Arrieta and Yu Darvish. They are both very similar in talent level and pitching style. They also would both be a good fit in the Dodger rotation with the lefty arms that are riddled throughout the rotation and entire Dodger organization.

However, they will likely be asking for a whole lot of dough. The Dodgers have the financial stability to do just that, but Friedman and the Dodger front office have never been the type to spend big in free agency. After all most of the improvements that Friedman has made to this team have come through trades and not big free agent spending.

Outside of Darvish and Arrieta there some other notable names, but with such few quality pitchers are available and plenty of teams looking to improve their asking price will be well above what they are actually worth. There is no need to spend big money on an incremental improvement like Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb.

If they do choose the free agency route, the thinking should be, Darvish, Arrieta or nothing. With those two having many suitors, it will be difficult to land either one. Which is exactly why making an upgrade via trade may be the best way to go this offseason.