Dodgers three best trade chips to use this off-season

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Tony Gonsolin #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants during their MLB game at Oracle Park on September 27, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Tony Gonsolin #46 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the San Francisco Giants during their MLB game at Oracle Park on September 27, 2019 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Robert Reiners/Getty Images)
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WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 15: Keibert Ruiz #7 of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the World Team walks through the dugout as he leaves the game injured in the seventh inning against the U.S. Team during the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game at Nationals Park on July 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

1. Keibert Ruiz

The Dodgers’ biggest trade chip this winter is the one that seems to find himself in every Dodger fans’ hypothetical trade on social media.  That is the Dodgers’ current number three prospect and former number one prospect, Keibert Ruiz.  While the Dodgers could deal Ruiz, he still has a ton of value and should not be traded unless the deal lands an impact player for LA.  Think Francisco Lindor, Brad Hand, etc.

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While Will Smith broke into the big leagues in 2019, he did struggle in September and his slump continued into the postseason where he went just 1-13.  There was a time when Ruiz ranked ahead of Smith on the prospect pecking order but Smith leaped ahead of him with a strong minor league season in 2019.

If Will Smith struggles in 2020, it could lead to Ruiz being called up late in the season and taking over for him if he is not traded this winter.  So the question you might be wondering is why would the Dodgers think about trading him away?  The Dodgers boast one of if not the deepest catching depth in baseball.

After Will Smith, the Dodgers have Keibert Ruiz, Diego Cartaya, and Connor Wong.  Cartaya is only 18 years old but he may end up the best catcher out of the bunch.  If the Dodgers believe Will Smith will end up a better catcher than Keibert Ruiz, it would make sense to use Ruiz to headline a blockbuster deal while his value is sky-high.  It remains to be seen if they believe that though.

While every prospect is available for the right player, Tony Gonsolin, Jeter Downs, and Keibert Ruiz are the three prospects that the Dodgers could trade without giving up their top two prospects in Gavin Lux and Dustin May.  Now it remains to be seen whether the Dodgers get aggressive in free agency or pursue their upgrades through trades.

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