Dodgers should swipe Trevor Story after Nolan Arenado thievery

Could the Dodgers make a deal with the Rockies after all despite losing out on Nolan Arenado?

From the very beginning of the Dodgers’ pursuit of Nolan Arenado, we echoed the same basic sentiments. Yes, it’d be amazing to reunite the Southern California third baseman with his roots, but it was never going to happen.

The cost would be more prohibitive for LA than any other team, after all, so why wouldn’t they simply re-up Justin Turner, pursue Trevor Bauer with their leftover money, extend Corey Seager, and call it a day?

Then, we saw the

actual return the Rockies got for Arenado

and realized that

even

with a baked-in Dodgers tax, we’d be willing to double it.

And, well…just like that, we’re ready to get hurt again.

There’s one remaining elite infield option in Colorado — so is there any chance the Dodgers can make a play for Trevor Story and preempt the need to move Corey Seager to second base by doing it ahead of schedule?

For now, it’s just one year; Story’s a member of the same free agent class as Seager, and technically, the Dodgers can choose one at the end of 2021 and call it a day.

We have no desire to cut ties with our 27-year-old World Series MVP, but if he’s potentially going to be forced off shortstop during the length of his next contract anyway, it might be helpful to get a sneak peak of the other side of the coin while he’s still on his rookie deal.

Plus, Story’s a luxury item. If the Dodgers acquire him to save him from floundering in Colorado, win another ring, then let him walk, can anyone argue that would be a mistake?

Based on the Arenado trade, we can’t imagine Story surviving in Denver until Opening Day. And we certainly can’t imagine the Rockies wouldn’t want to cash in at this point. We’d initiate conversations with every interested buyer, if we were running that team.

We’d also have kept Arenado, but that’s beside the point.

https://twitter.com/Rockies/status/1298415994864635905?s=20

So, what can one year of an elite infielder cost? Well, that’s context-dependent. See, we’ve already watched one year of the other elite infielder cost next to nothing.

Even baking in the nervous energy regarding dealing within the division, Arenado didn’t cost a prospect rated higher than ninth. So, what, seven for Story? Six?

We should expect a higher cost of acquisition for the Dodgers, and it isn’t a perfect fit, but sometimes in life, you simply have to order the lobster and ask questions later. Get good players. Let things work themselves out.

Call the floundering team about a great player dangling in purgatory for 2021, and see what you can finagle.

Dodgers: Rockies’ return in Nolan Arenado trade is embarrassing

The St. Louis Cardinals got away with highway robbery in the Nolan Arenado trade -- the Los Angeles Dodgers would've had to pay a Dodgers Tax, though.