FanSided

Dodgers: Which Players Should be Off Limits in Trades?

By Michael Wittman |
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger
1 of 5
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 28: Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, and Stan Kasten, President, and part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers talk with Cody Bellinger /

The Dodgers have shown they are not afraid to deal fan favorites during the Andrew Friedman era.  Which Dodgers should be untouchable in trades?

The Dodgers have been “savage” during the Andrew Friedman era in terms of trading away fan favorites.  Maybe it has to do with the fact that many of these Dodgers were not drafted or acquired by Friedman but he has shipped away fan favorites in Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig, and Matt Kemp not once but two times.  If a deal makes sense for the Dodgers then Friedman is not afraid to trade away players who are not off limits in trades.

The Dodgers are one of the most talented teams in baseball, although that has not yet translated into a World Series title.  The Dodgers were right on the doorsteps in 2017 before losing in seven games and in 2018 they never got that close to winning the World Series against the Red Sox.  The current MLB roster has a good blend of young talent and veteran talent which means their list of untradeable players is an interesting debate.  Here are the four players on the MLB roster who should be untouchable in trades for the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers the pitch during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers the pitch during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

Walker Buehler

When you think of untouchable players for the Dodgers the most obvious candidate is Walker Buehler.  While Buehler has some injury risk because he is only 175 pounds and has had Tommy John surgery already, he has done a great job of quieting those injury risks in the last year.  The Dodgers had Buehler on a strict innings limit in 2018 but come 2019, Andrew Friedman has already said there will be no limitations.

The 2018 season was a break out season for Walker as he finished the season with a 2.62 ERA and flashed his brilliance in the World Series shutting out the eventual World Series champions over seven strong innings.  Last season provided valuable experience to Buehler as he made his first playoff start, pitched game seven of the NLCS, and made a World Series start.  Is there a pitcher in baseball that you would trade Walker Buehler for? Probably not.

LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 24: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers flys out during the fifth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on April 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 24: Corey Seager #5 of the Los Angeles Dodgers flys out during the fifth inning of a game against the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium on April 24, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Corey Seager

Remember him? The Dodgers prized shortstop missed nearly all of the 2018 regular season and postseason as he rehabbed from Tommy John surgery.  Barring any setbacks, he should be fully recovered from TJ and hip surgery and be the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop in 2019.  There is a chance the Dodgers ease him back into games and give him more days off to start the season but then he should be the workhorse he is at shortstop.

Despite being a veteran on the team, Seager will turn just 25 in April and figures to be a part of the Dodgers’ infield for the next decade at least.  While Seager may shift to third base as he gets older, he will still be a valuable player at third base both defensively and offensively.  Seager is a lock for 20+ homers and an average above .280 when he is fully healthy.

After playing through injuries the past few seasons it’s fair to wonder if Seager will put up even greater numbers now that he no longer has a bum elbow.  The Dodgers will welcome the clutch bat of Corey Seager back into their lineup in 2019 as he has been one of LA’s best hitters with runners in scoring position.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers the pitch during the seventeenth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 26: Julio Urias #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers the pitch during the seventeenth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Three of the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Julio Urias

Speaking of coming back from surgery, that is exactly what Julio Urias did towards the end of the 2018 season.  Urias did not have the more common Tommy John surgery as he had an anterior capsule injury and at one point it looked like young Julio would miss the train for the 2018 season.  Despite pitching only four innings during the regular season, management was convinced he could help out in the postseason and added him to the playoff roster.

One of Urias’s biggest outs of the season was the infamous sliding catch made by Chris Taylor in game seven of the NLCS.  Urias got Yelich to fly out and end the Brewers’ scoring threat which was even bigger once Yasiel Puig homered to give the Dodgers a bigger lead.

Urias will be brought along slowly in 2019 so that he can start for the Dodgers with no restrictions once he is called up.  It remains to be seen if Urias will start the season in the minors or in extended spring training.  Despite losing a season, Urias will turn just 23 in 2019 and remains a pitcher with a bright future for the Dodgers.

LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground ball fielder’s choice to first base in the sixth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: Cody Bellinger #35 of the Los Angeles Dodgers hits a ground ball fielder’s choice to first base in the sixth inning of Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Cody Bellinger

The Dodgers once thought Cody Bellinger was their first baseman of the future and while he likely still is, they are probably going to start Cody in centerfield for the 2019 season.  Bellinger is the best centerfielder on the big league roster and with Max Muncy’s breakout, the Dodgers can play Bellinger in the outfield.  Despite his sophomore slump, Bellinger still hit .260 with 25 home runs in 2018.

More from LA Dodgers News

Bellinger came up clutch several times in the postseason whether it was a sliding catch, a walk-off single, or a majestic throw to keep the game scoreless in extra innings.  He also stole fourteen bases last season and should be a lock for twenty steals a season if he tries to attempt more stolen bases.  While his power bat is his biggest calling card, Bellinger can impact the game in many ways.

The two things Cody needs to improve on is cutting down strikeouts and hitting lefties.  Against southpaws, Bellinger hit just .226 in 2018 and he was essentially benched whenever there was a left-handed starter on the mound.  If Bellinger wants to start more games in 2019, he will need to prove he can hit lefties which Friedman said he will get a chance to do.

Next. It's time for the Dodgers to be more aggressive in trades. dark

Even with the strikeouts and problems against lefties, Bellinger should still be an untouchable player for the Dodgers.  He has game-changing power, speed, and defense that can help the Dodgers win games even when he has a bad day at the plate.  Combined with the fact that he will be just 24 in July, Bellinger should be the Dodgers fourth untouchable player in trades.

Next
Home / LA Dodgers News

Schedule