This Dodgers-Giants trade could benefit both rivals

The Dodgers and Giants never trade with each other, like the Mets and Yankees. But, like…why not?

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants have an age-old rivalry between them that unfortunately has now resulted in the two sides fighting for entirely different goals.

The Dodgers are an annual contender, rolling out among the most complete rosters in MLB, with a farm system to match. The Giants? Following an early-decade, even-year-magic-based run, they’ve fallen into the doldrums.

For decades these were two 88-win teams fighting tooth and nail for NL West supremacy. Now? The Dodgers’ goal is to win the whole damn thing, and the Giants’ goal is to win a respectable number of Dodgers-Giants games.

But this offseason, Los Angeles has a chance to remove the thorn from their side and attempt to get San Francisco out from one of their worst contracts while improving at their one critically weak position. Perhaps the two sides will be able to silence the bickering and get down to brass tax? After all, wouldn’t the Giants do just about anything to rid themselves from Evan Longoria?

The 35-year-old, once on a Hall of Fame trajectory, is now stuck in San Francisco weighing down their payroll through 2022 (with a 2023 team option they wouldn’t dream of selecting).

Likely thinking he’d ensured himself both financial security and continuity back in 2012 when he signed this expensive deal in Tampa, Longoria likely soon learned that nobody’s safe in TB. Not even franchise icons.

But perhaps former Rays exec Andrew Friedman would like to turn Longoria into the next Justin Turner? Is a clutch-hitting, late-career renaissance perhaps around the corner for Longo? With unlimited financial resources, the Dodgers might be willing to kick in some cash to bring the veteran third sacker aboard, if the Giants also kick in some younger commodities.

Dodgers-Giants Evan Longoria Trade

Dodgers Get: Evan Longoria, Shaun Anderson, No. 20 prospect 1B Logan Wyatt $5 million for 2021 and 2022

Giants Get: No. 8 Prospect Clayton Beeter, No. 18 Prospect Zach McKinstry

McKinstry is a feisty middle infielder who’s a plug and play in San Fran; he’s 25 and ready to contribute, but likely not for the Dodgers. Beeter, this past year’s second-rounder out of Texas Tech, has yet to appear in a minor league contest.

For their acquisition of dollars (with a little salary relief from the Giants’ side), the Dodgers would get a viable veteran bat (don’t discount him), as well as a young relief prospect who’d fit perfectly in their bullpen to handle the unclaimed middle innings.

https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1287718286948536321?s=20

Shaun Anderson struggled as a 24-year-old starter in a poor rotation in 2019, but as a top prospect, he thrived out of the ‘pen during the shortened 2020 season, whiffing 18 in 15.1 innings pitched with a 3.52 ERA. His fastball-88 MPH slider combo worked wonders in short relief, and the Dodgers need all the viable, MLB-tested young arms they can get to challenge for set-up roles after saying goodbye to Pedro Baez (and preparing for the end of Kenley Jansen’s tenure).

Few teams have the financial flexibility to absorb Longoria’s contract like it’s nothing, and the Dodgers (with a need at third base) are very much among them.

But since they’d be dealing with a rival, the Giants had better make it worth their while for freeing them of this burden. Perhaps the Dodgers would demand a prospect of a higher caliber than Wyatt, but there’s certainly a framework for a rare deal between chief rivals here.

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