Trade Targets that Could Bolster the Dodgers Rotation

HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 05: Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 5, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - OCTOBER 05: Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Houston Astros during Game One of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 5, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – OCTOBER 06: Carlos Carrasco #59 of the Cleveland Indians delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Houston Astros during Game Two of the American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park on October 6, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

If the Indians are opening up shop, the Dodgers should be shopping. Kluber was my first (and slightly unrealistic) option and Carlos Carrasco, Kluber’s teammate, is the other choice.

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Carrasco has the stuff to be incredible. Year in and year out, the player who goes by Cookie proves that he is one of the most reliable players in the game. Carrasco has not pitched less than 130 innings since 2013 and he also has not had an ERA exceeding 3.65 in that span.

Carrasco would bring a lot to the Dodgers rotation in both experience and skill. At 31-years old, the Venezuela native has been in the league since 2009 and has captained his team to the playoffs in each of the last three seasons along with Corey Kluber.

Financially, Carrasco is the cheapest player you’re going to get for someone that is a front of the rotation talent. He is set to make $9,750,000 in 2019 with an option for 2020 worth the same amount of money. This is ideal for the Dodgers as Carrasco becomes a short-term player with high capabilities.

In terms of the return, I can’t imagine it would be cheap. With someone like Kluber on the team, I am sure the price goes down because the Indians can not have the same asking price for the two guys but that would not take away from the talent necessary to get a player of Carrasco’s caliber. The Dodgers have expressed interest in the right before and I don’t see a reason to not pursue him this offseason.

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The Dodgers have options to make this team better. Could the look at free agency to do that? Sure. But, laying on the trading block are at least three great options worth taking a look at as all three of them get this team closer to its goal: a World Series trophy.