Dodgers: A Changing NL East Could Bring Big Pieces to LA

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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 7: Bryce Harper /

The teams on the bottom of the NL East have some players that could help improve the Dodgers. With the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies beginning to flex their rebuilt muscle this off-season, the landscape in the NL East is shifting right under the league’s feet

While the Phillies and Braves try to chase the Dodgers at the top of the NL, the two young future powerhouses are attempting to sign new free agents and poach some of the NL West’s top stars, like Madison Bumgarner, Patrick Corbin and Paul Goldschmidt. The Washington Nationals may have to look to retool and deal away some of their aging talent.

The Miami Marlins will continue the firesale they started after dealing their powerful lineup of 2016 and 2017. Even the New York Mets are trying to fight back into contention with a trade for Robinson Cano and Edwin Diaz. These five All-Stars, via trade or free agency, could be left out to dry by the NL East’s newest bottom-feeders, and thus made available to the Dodgers.

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN – NOVEMBER 13: Catcher J.T. Realmuto #11 of the Miami Marlins grounds out in the bottom of 3rd inning during the game four between Japan and MLB All Stars at Mazda Zoom Zoom Stadium Hiroshima on November 13, 2018 in Hiroshima, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) /

J.T. Realmuto, C, Miami Marlins

J.T. Realmuto’s name has been floated around all off-season. While he has been linked to many teams, the Dodgers have an obvious need at catcher assuming Yasmani Grandal seeks a new start
Before the Rule 5 Draft, Michael Wittman broke down why the Dodgers had to hold onto Keibert Ruiz:

Ruiz is the Dodgers’ catcher of the future and second-ranked prospect behind only Alex Verdugo. While Ruiz is at least one more year away, he is the catcher of the future and a lock to be protected.

If the Dodgers want Realmuto to be their catcher for the remainder of his prime, they may have to deal away their current catching future. The Marlins would want a prospect of Ruiz’s caliber, probably more than one, for their last remaining All-Star. Besides Ruiz, the Dodgers would probably have to send a starting pitcher like Brock Stewart or Yadier Alvarez to Miami, along with an outfielder, maybe Andrew Toles, who could play every day for the Marlins.

DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 30: Bryce Harper #34 of the Washington Nationals hits a ninth inning double against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on September 30, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Harper and Rendon

These two players provide a look into the strength of the Nationals’ rosters over the past few seasons. Individually, they could stabilize the middle of any lineup with their power and on-base skills.

Harper is the obvious star. Polarizing and fiery, with his bat-snapping and beautiful flowing hair that matches his powerful stroke at the plate, he had been the envy of GMs across the league during his stay in D.C. But after rejecting the 10 year $300 million extension the Nationals offered him heading into the off-season, Harper is going elsewhere for 2019, and presumably for around a decade.

The Nationals seem to be retooling, as they are adding and subtracting various pieces after finishing last season with just 82 wins. Strasburg has been extended until his age 34 season, but has opt-out options after the 2019 and 2020. Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Adam Eaton will patrol the outfield next season and the Nats probably will be pressed to contend again next season, with the Phillies presumably adding lots of pitching this off-season, and maybe even Manny Machado, after finishing just two games back of the Nats last season.

In this retooling vein, Anthony Rendon seems like a likely trade candidate. If he is not extended like Strasburg, with 2019 and 2020 opt-outs, then he will most likely be shopped this off-season, as he is slated to become a free agent next off-season.

Rendon was the Nationals best hitter in 2018. Yes, that implies that he was better than Harper, and beyond the raw power numbers, he clearly was. Among Nationals hitters with at least 350 AB’s last season, Rendon was second on the team in WRC+ and OBP, and led the team with a miniscule 13.7% strikeout rate and .308 batting average. He also finished second on the team in home runs with 24 to go along with a team-leading 44 doubles.

Rendon would be a rental for the Dodgers, but he could be extended for the long-term solution at second base and later in his career third base once Justin Turner needs to be replaced. Rendon is currently 28, turning 29 in June, and thus is entering the last few seasons of his prime as a relatively late breakout.

Rendon has exclusively manned the hot corner in D.C. over the past three seasons, so some may forget that Rendon began his career at second base. In his 1423.2 career innings at second base from 2013 to 2015, he has a .982 fielding percentage and only 13 errors, with nine of those coming during his rookie season.

Whether or not he is extended once he is in LA, Rendon provides a better stopgap at second base than Brian Dozier. Rendon is playoff tenured hitter, with 63 PAs in the postseason, and though his overall performance has been lackluster, he has had bad BABIP luck.

MILWAUKEE, WI – SEPTEMBER 16: Drew Steckenrider #71 of the Miami Marlins pitches during the eight inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on September 16, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Marlins defeated the Brewers 7-4. (Photo by John Konstantaras/Getty Images) /

Drew Steckenrider and Adam Conley

Other pieces that could make their way over include Marlin’s bullpen pieces, like Drew Steckenreider and Adam Conley. Adding bullpen pieces of this caliber is not as fun as adding someone like David Robertson or Kelvin Herrera. But the Dodgers really just need to add experienced back-end depth, and if they need to hold onto their money in order to sign a second baseman or in order to extend a core player, that is valid.

Steckenreider began closing games for the Marlins late in 2018, while Barraclough (who was dealt to the Nationals in October) was hurt. Steckenreider throws a firm but flat fastball that sits 95 mph but can get up near triple digits. His innings have been somewhat limited over his first two MLB seasons, with just 99.1 innings over the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but he will be a near lock to be fresh for a playoff run, which is more than you can say about Kenley Jansen.

Steckenreider did struggle in save opportunities last season, going just 5/10 in them. But he was a force in the seventh and eighth innings, which would be his role in LA, as he combined for a 2.38 ERA in these late innings in 2018.

Adam Conley is a lesser piece than Steckenreider in terms of pure stuff, but he brings a different package to the bullpen. A former starter, Conley throws a dirty changeup and slider, even if he lacks a fastball, and had an eye-opening first half in 2018.

He also is a lefty arm who thrives against lefties, something the Dodgers lacked in 2018, though Tony Cingrani has reportedly been brought back on a one year deal to avoid arbitration. He threw 25 innings to lefties last season with a 2.52 ERA and .179 batting average against.

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 28: Jean Segura #2 of the Seattle Mariners watches the ball fly to right field, which would be dropped on an error by Nomar Mazara #30 of the Texas Rangers to score three in the second inning at Safeco Field on September 28, 2018 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Lindsey Wasson/Getty Images) /

Other options

But it’s not just NL East players that could make their way over to LA. With the Mets trying to take some of the last of the Mariners’ major pieces to jump out of the cellar in the NL East, the Dodgers should try to take advantage of the fire sale.

Michael Wittman brought up Seattle’s stellar shortstop Jean Segura as a potential trade candidate:

Segura is another second base trade candidate who would give the Dodgers the best leadoff hitter they’ve had in years to go along with plus speed. While Segura has stolen as many as 44 bases, a safe expectation is 20-25 stolen bases a year. Add that to his .287 career average and 10-15 home run potential and the Dodgers would have an enormous upgrade if they acquired Jean Segura. More from Dodgers Rumors Don’t hold your breath on Dodgers making Justin Turner decision soon Dodgers have lost the plot if Trevor Bauer hearing is restricting offseason spending Dodgers Winter Meetings: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly Dodgers get last laugh over Padres getting owned by Trea Turner, Aaron Judge Dodgers News: Tommy Kahnle leaves, Clayton Kershaw contract, Trea Turner aftermath

Besides Segura, the Mariners have some vestiges of pitching that will most likely be available to the Dodgers. Felix Hernandez and Mike Leake are both likely to be shopped around this off-season. Leake has been connected to the San Diego Padres according to MLB Trade Rumors, but if the Dodgers wanted to add an innings eater, Leake could be had for relatively cheap in terms of his prospect cost.

Hernandez would be more of a reclamation project and a way to potentially add a viable experienced arm to the rotation. His role would probably be more to help younger players rather than to back up Kershaw and Buehler at the top of the rotation, but he still does have the potential to be an asset on the mound.

Hernandez showed signs of breaking down last season, as he threw 155.2 innings with a 5.55 ERA overall. But there were bright spots hidden beneath that swollen ERA. In June, Hernandez went 3-2 in six starts, with 34 innings and a 3.71 ERA, backed up by 30 strikeouts. And as a reliever, Hernandez had a 3.18 ERA, albeit it was a limited sample size.

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Though Hernandez has been a liability on the mound for much of the last few seasons, his $27 million guarantee for 2019 means the Mariners would not mind dealing him. If the Dodgers stay quiet this off-season on the free agent side of things, Hernandez could make sense as a flyer that could be valuable as a veteran out of the bullpen.

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