Dodgers: Questions that will be answered on trade deadline day
Today is the day, the trade deadline. The sole deadline for the 2019 season meaning it’s now or never for the Dodgers to shore up their bullpen.
Do or do not, there is no try. That is the situation the Dodgers are facing today on trade deadline day. Due to the new rule, today is the last day that there will be trades for the 2019 season. Here are questions that will be answered by 1 PM PST today.
Can the Dodgers pry Felipe Vazquez away from the Pirates?
The Pirates remain stubborn in that they are not going to deal Felipe Vazquez unless they get an offer they cannot refuse. The latest reports this morning said the Pirates were listening more actively and that the chances of Vazquez getting moved were a coin flip.
Of course, things tend to be very fluid around the trade deadline. There were also reports yesterday that the Indians were unlikely to trade Trevor Bauer and then by the end of the evening Bauer was a Cincinnati Red. Can the Dodgers get the Pirates to have a change of heart with an offer they cannot refuse?
The Dodgers need another reliable left-hander in their bullpen which would allow them to use Julio Urias more freely. As far the reliever market goes, Vazquez is the top southpaw and there is a big drop off after him especially if the Giants hang on to Will Smith. The Pirates want Gavin Lux but the Dodgers have not given in to those demands. Today they have a chance to hash it out before 1 PM.
Which prospects will be on the move?
The Dodgers had Tony Gonsolin pitch four innings last night and it’s very possible it was a showcase. If it was indeed a showcase then Tony passed with flying colors as he allowed just one run over four innings while picking up the first save of his big league career. Gonsolin is the Dodgers’ sixth-ranked prospect and could be part of a deal for a reliever.
Many teams would love to pry Gavin Lux away from the Dodgers but the club has deemed him untouchable as they should. LA could be willing to include former top prospect Keibert Ruiz in a deal for a player like Felipe Vazquez but Dustin May and Gavin Lux are the two untouchables. Will Smith is also untouchable as he has now taken over the starting catcher role.
The Dodgers have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball so depending on how aggressive they are at the trade deadline, they could put together lots of different trade packages without touching their top four prospects. If they acquire someone like Shane Greene, the top four shouldn’t be touched.
Will there be any big surprises before the trade deadline?
Unlike the last two seasons where it became clear the Dodgers were the favorites to land Yu Darvish and Manny Machado, the 2019 deadline leaves open plenty of possibilities for the Dodgers. Even if they acquire a reliever as expected, who they will acquire remains a mystery. Will it be Vazquez or a less flashy acquisition like Shane Greene?
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There is even the possibility that the club could acquire a starting pitcher with Rich Hill still working his way back. The Mets have made Noah Syndergaard available and the Reds could look to flip Trevor Bauer again before the deadline. Other starters known to be available are Matthew Boyd and Mike Minor, two AL starters.
Speaking of injuries, with Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernandez both on the IL, there is a chance the Dodgers could look to bring in another second baseman or utility-type player. Kristopher Negrón was acquired and hit a home run last night, but he could just be a temporary fill-in until a better utility player is acquired.
As Dodgers Way writer Jacob Rudner wrote about a few days ago, the club could look to acquire a better backup catcher. With Russell Martin on his last legs, Austin Barnes struggling to find his swing, and Keibert Ruiz still not ready for the show, LA might look into bringing in a better backup for Will Smith.
The Dodgers usually make several smaller moves at the trade deadline and this year they could make a few under the radar acquisitions. It’ll be interesting to see how the single deadline affects the team’s trades. Regardless of what happens, we will get all our answers by 1 PM today.