Dodgers: Storylines to watch at the Winter Meetings
Will there be a franchise-altering trade?
The Manny Machado trade was a big-time acquisition but it was a rental type trade and the last time the Dodgers had a franchise-altering trade was in 2012 when the club acquired Adrian Gonzalez along with Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett, and Nick Punto. Prior to the deal for Gonzalez, another big trade was back in 2008 when “Mannywood” was born in another big trade with the Red Sox.
This off-season there are two big stars on the trade block which are Mookie Betts and Francisco Lindor. Betts is in a contract year so it remains to be seen if a team is willing to offer multiple top prospects for one season of Betts. Francisco Lindor would come with two seasons of control and the Dodgers have already been linked to the Indians’ star shortstop. A trade for Lindor could move Corey Seager to third base and shift Justin Turner across the diamond to first base.
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The Dodgers have been stingy in keeping their prospects and it has turned out to be a good idea with Cody Bellinger becoming an MVP award winner and Walker Buehler blossoming into an ace in the postseason. There is no such thing as too much talent but the Dodgers do have prospects that are expendable and Andrew Friedman has said numerous times this off-season that the team has the depth to make deals.
Joc Pederson is another player on the trading block and the Chicago White Sox have been interested in acquiring him since last off-season. With Joc in his final season before free agency, the Dodgers could look to trade him now to get something for him prior to his departure in free agency. A.J. Pollock, Cody Bellinger, and Alex Verdugo would likely be the starting outfield next season if Joc is dealt.
Unlike the last few off-seasons, the Dodgers have a shot to make an impact move at this year’s Winter Meetings. With the team still in World Series title contention, it’s time for that impact move to put the team over the top. Will this Winter Meetings finally be the time for the Dodgers to go bold and acquire a star?