Dodgers: Twins players LAD can steal in trade after Minnesota’s brutal start

1. Max Kepler

Did you think the Dodgers needed outfield depth entering 2021? What about when Zach McKinstry, Cody Bellinger, AJ Pollock, Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor all missed time? Every roster looks a little thin when you strip off the top five on the depth chart at any position.

Max Kepler doesn’t fulfill Los Angeles’ most glaring need, but then again, did Albert Pujols seem like a prime candidate to be acquired? What about Yoshi Tsutsugo? Learning a lesson from their difficult month of April, the Dodgers front office seems primed to add offensive talent wherever they can find it, worrying about fit, need and usage at a later date.

Kepler found his footing in 2019, receiving MVP votes for smashing 36 home runs with a 124 OPS+ as a slugging lefty in Minny’s outfield, and has regressed slightly since then, though his exit velocity is higher than ever this year at 90.9. Add that profile to his on-base skills (OBP’ing 100 points higher than his average), and Kepler could add a flexible fourth outfielder to LA’s equation, as well as insurance against Matt Beaty slowing down from his torrid pace. Without Edwin Rios for the remainder of the season, it wouldn’t hurt to add more power to the bench wherever the Dodgers can get it — again, why else would Albert Pujols be here?

Kepler is also excellent defensively, posting a 100th-percentile outfielder jump metric.

His heat metrics are rising, and his counting stats seem poised to bounce back. Maybe the Dodgers would slightly overpay here for 2.5 years of relatively team-friendly control, especially with Chris Taylor set to hit free agency?

Dodgers: 3 midseason trade targets LAD should already be focused on

The Los Angeles Dodgers are an excellent team in need of a spark and some normalcy. We completely understand why they're already thinking trade deadline.