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Dodgers: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly in Dodgers Trade Rumors

By Michael Wittman |
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 01: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 1, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - JUNE 01: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 1, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 01: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 1, 2018, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JUNE 01: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles rounds the bases after hitting a home run during a baseball game against the New York Yankees at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on June 1, 2018, in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /

The Dodgers have three weeks left until the non-waiver trade deadline.  With the deadline fast approaching the rumors are starting to ramp up for whom the Dodgers are targeting.

The Dodgers have less than three weeks to decide what they try to do at the trade deadline.  For the Dodgers, there are a lot of different ways they could seek help at the trade deadline.  The one constant is that whichever route the Dodgers go, they will be looking to stay under the luxury tax threshold, so they are not going to take on big money in any potential deal they make.

The three positions the Dodgers are hunting for help are shortstop, second base, and the bullpen.  Shortstop is not an immediate need with Chris Taylor being above average, but with second base lacking offensive punch, the Dodgers could move Taylor to second base if they acquire a shortstop.

Second base is the one big offensive hole in the Dodgers lineup.  While Max Muncy can “play” second base, he is not the best defensive option there.  The Dodgers are better off playing Muncy at first, and Cody Bellinger in centerfield, especially with Yasiel Puig out for several weeks.  The Dodgers will also seek to acquire an elite reliever to form a dominant one-two punch at the end of games with Kenley Jansen.  Here is the good, the bad, and the ugly with the Dodgers recent trade rumors.

MIAMI, FL – JUNE 30: Kyle Barraclough #46 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on June 30, 2018, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 30: Kyle Barraclough #46 of the Miami Marlins delivers a pitch in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at Marlins Park on June 30, 2018, in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The Good

Kyle Barraclough – The Dodgers have been linked to Marlins closer Kyle Barraclough as well as two of their other relievers in Drew Steckenrider and Adam Conley.  Barraclough remains the best reliever on the trade market who is under team control for multiple seasons.  This season Barraclough has a WHIP below one and a stellar opponent’s average allowed of .119.  If the Dodgers want to aim high in their trade search for a reliever, it would be tough to find a better candidate on the trade market.  Barraclough has three seasons left of team control through arbitration, making him worthy of dealing away a top prospect like Alex Verdugo.

Scooter Gennett – With trade talks for Manny Machado seemingly at a standstill, the Dodgers are reportedly looking into other infield options, and one of those is Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett.  Scooter is currently one of the leading hitters in baseball with a .322 batting average, and he is under team control for one more season.  The Dodgers could acquire Gennett and get ahead of things to check off this winter if they can land a bonafide second baseman like Gennett right now.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 21: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles waits to bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 21, 2018, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 21: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles waits to bat against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on June 21, 2018, in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

The Bad

Manny Machado – There is no doubt that Manny Machado is one of the premier third basemen in the game but now that he is back to being a shortstop, Machado is no longer a defensive asset.  Not only would the Dodgers have to part ways with multiple top prospects, they would be doing so to get a rental player who is all but assured of not coming back next season with Corey Seager back.  Starting Machado at short would also rule out second base as a spot where Max Muncy can play as that would be one of the worst defensive middle infields in baseball.  Machado can hit with the best of them, but the Dodgers need relief and second base help more which makes an expensive shortstop rental low on the list of needs.

Brian Dozier – The Dodgers have had discussions about Brian Dozier, and despite his emergence over the past few seasons, this would now be a bad move.  Not only is Dozier a pending free agent, but he is also having a down season.  His slugging percentage is down over ninety points compared to last season, and his on-base percentage is down fifty points.  If the Dodgers want offense out of second base, they might as well play Muncy there and not give up prospects for a few months of Dozier in a down season.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 9: Fernando Rodney #56 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates defeating the Kansas City Royals after the game on July 9, 2018, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 3-1. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – JULY 9: Fernando Rodney #56 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates defeating the Kansas City Royals after the game on July 9, 2018, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Royals 3-1. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Ugly

More from LA Dodgers News

Fernando Rodney – The Dodgers have some interest in Fernando Rodney, and that should strike fear into the hearts of any Dodger fan.  The Dodgers had made it a routine of mounting big comeback wins against Rodney when he was a Diamondback, and he is notorious for piling up saves while having ugly peripheral stats.  The Dodgers are better off not acquiring a reliever if they have to stoop down to Fernando Rodney type relievers.  Let’s all pray that Fernando Rodney is never shooting imaginary arrows while in a Dodgers uniform.

Brad Ziegler – One of the latest rumors regarding the Dodgers is that they have preliminary interest in Marlins reliever Brad Ziegler.  While Ziegler has pitched better in the last two weeks, he is on the downside of his career at 38 years old.  While reliever wins and losses are often a terrible stat, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Ziegler has five losses pitching in high leverage situations.  If Dodger fans dislike Pedro Baez, they will dislike Brad Ziegler.

Next: Dodgers Quick Hits: Kershaw, Toles, Trade Rumors

Josh Harrison – In the batch of Machado alternative rumors yesterday, Josh Harrison was mentioned as someone the Dodgers could be looking at.  Harrison has been good defensively, but he has had a bad season offensively.  Not only does Josh Harrison have only four home runs, but he also has an on-base percentage below 300 and an OPS under 700.  Harrison is a mediocre player making ten million this season.  He almost makes Logan Forsythe’s deal not look so bad anymore.

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