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Dodgers: 3 Non-Tendered players who are perfect fits in LA

By Adam Weinrib |
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs bats against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
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How could the Dodgers not pick up the phone and call these free agents, after the talent pool just got much larger?

The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of only a few big-spending teams poised to take full advantage of second free agency!

See, that’s when the league’s cheap franchises — a number that is skyrocketing in 2020 — let loose additional players who they could’ve retained control over, but instead chose to non-tender as their arbitration meetings approached. Wild.

The Dodgers have already taken advantage of such maneuvers quickly, working out a trade for Brewers reliever Corey Knebel just before he was about to be cut loose by the team (love those players to be named later!). But are there more players available who the LAD can strike on in the coming days?

After all, it’s just money.

These three options would be perfect for bolstering the bullpen, replacing Joc Pederson at a low cost, or simply sticking it to a division rival. Intrigue!

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 28: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on July 28, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JULY 28: Archie Bradley #25 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the ninth inning at Globe Life Field on July 28, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

3. Archie Bradley

Former Diamondbacks set-up man Archie Bradley would be a solid bridge for the Dodgers.

The bridge to Kenley Jansen, which has teetered in recent years, was reinforced on Wednesday night with the shrewd Knebel move, which may or may not have been a cost-cutting measure to save face for Blake Treinen’s imminent departure.

Well, why not go for a two-for-one?

Archie Bradley is certainly going to be due less money than Treinen this offseason — the sinker-balling righty just dominated in the postseason on a one-year, $10 million contract he’ll at least be looking to duplicate (with more security involved).

Since his move to the bullpen became permanent in 2017, Bradley has been a consistent firebrand, a former top pitching prospect turned a high-profile setup man (if not a potential closer, if need be).

Smart teams stockpile inexpensive relievers instead of blowing massive money on several back-end options or waiting around and hoping that they eventually develop All-Star level pitching prospects and sell them on a relief role.

It’s time to pair Bradley with Knebel and let Julio Urias eat in the rotation. We can’t believe the baseball world made this so easy for us.

CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 27: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 27, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cubs defeated the Reds 8-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – JULY 27: Kyle Schwarber #12 of the Chicago Cubs looks on during the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on July 27, 2020 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Cubs defeated the Reds 8-7. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

2. Kyle Schwarber

You can’t get much more power at this inexpensive rate than Kyle Schwarber, Dodgers.

Coming off his worst season as a pro (aren’t we all?), the Cubs let Kyle Schwarber loose entering his age-28 season for reasons unknown.

And with Joc Pederson finally hitting free agency one year after the Dodgers attempted to trade him across town anyway (sorry!), it seems likely the LAD will be content to let him go and replicate his power against righties at a cheaper rate.

Schwarber destroys righties career, hitting a ridiculous 107 out of his career total of 121 home runs against, well, the type of pitcher you’ll encounter more often in the wild. Pederson’s split, in almost the same length career? 121 bombs against righties and nine against lefties. Hilariously similar.

But both men have different goals this offseason. Schwarber has one year left to establish his value before hitting free agency in earnest (unless someone unexpectedly locks him in to an extension now), and Pederson has already arrived at that marker (despite surprisingly similar 2020 seasons, his tools aren’t being questioned).

Both men bring similar skill sets to the table, though Schwarber is a far clunkier left fielder — hey, wouldn’t it be nice if Major League Baseball, like, told its National League teams if they were going to have a DH to work with at this point? Might be nice!

If the Dodgers can stomach Schwarber’s occasional left field antics, he’d be a perfect low-cost Pederson replicant.

SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 09: David Dahl #26 of the Colorado Rockies stands on the field before of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August, 9, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 5-3. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA – AUGUST 09: David Dahl #26 of the Colorado Rockies stands on the field before of a game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on August, 9, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won 5-3. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

1. David Dahl

We don’t understand why the Rockies cut David Dahl loose, but their loss could be the Dodgers’ gain!

Why on Earth did the Colorado Rockies see the need to cut 2019 All-Star David Dahl after one weird negative WAR 60-game season?

Yes, his 2020 was brutal, and sure, the Rockies believe they can manufacture offense out of thin air (the thinnest air, actually!). But Dahl was very recently among their tippy-top prospects, and hit .302/.353/.524 in a breakout 2019 season that landed him in Cleveland among the league’s elite.

The soon-to-be 27-year-old is arbitration eligible for the very first time this offseason, and theoretically was under team control through 2023. The bizarre nature of this move masks the fact that Dahl is very much still a promising offensive and defensive option who was very recently considered a cornerstone on a different NL West team entirely.

The Dodgers have learned in recent years that you can never collect enough good players. They added Mookie Betts despite the fact that NL MVP Cody Bellinger already patrolled center field at Chavez Ravine. They couldn’t even fit MLB’s No. 1 prospect Gavin Lux into their championship roster last season, and that’s perfectly OK.

If top-notch talent unexpectedly presents itself, it’s OK to pounce now and ask questions later, especially with Pederson’s departure imminent, as well as potentially Kiké Hernández’s.

A move for Dahl, extremely confusing and impossible a few weeks ago, would now be quite hard to resist. Perhaps he even puts in a good word for his old buddy Nolan Arenado?

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