Dodgers: 3 trade deadline chips LAD will regret moving

The Los Angeles Dodgers are going to be ravenous at the 2021 MLB trade deadline in search of pitching — but if they surrender any of these assets, they’d better be getting something truly monstrous in return.

Otherwise, it’s gonna hurt.

If the Dodgers have a chance to get their hands on Max Scherzer this cycle, that should be a no-holds-barred free for all that includes any number of names and financial figures being exchanged. Mad Max’s availability changes this conversation, and shouldn’t lead to a single “regret” about the names surrendered — even if things ultimately don’t break right.

Without a player of Scherzer’s caliber on the other end of a deadline deal, the Dodgers should balk at including any of these three players, though, whose futures are all better served either in the home whites or as the centerpiece of a larger trade.

We know Andrew Friedman is smart enough to hold onto these chips and assets. We have faith.

But when we start reading repeated articles about just how viciously he’s monitoring the pitching market, we get a bit nervous about a once-in-a-decade overpay as the team looks to justify their standing and win a full 162-game-season World Series. It could happen. Pitching never comes cheap, especially if someone’s leaking to the press that you’re desperate for it.

In our opinion, these three players will all eventually outweigh the benefit of any available pitcher with their MLB production.

The Dodgers will regret trading these 3 players at the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline.

3. Michael Busch

Fresh off the Futures Game, the ultimate showcase for MLB-ready-ish prospect talent, Dodgers infielder Michael Busch acquitted himself quite well, going 1-for-1 and rocketing a single off the glove of Jeter Downs.

If Gavin Lux is going to continue to put up fringe-average numbers as questions remain about Corey Seager’s future, well … the Dodgers might just extend Seags anyway, move Busch to second and deal baseball’s former No. 1 overall prospect instead.

Quite a turn of events for Busch, 2019’s first-round pick out of UNC, who’s already knocking on the door.

His average at Double-A Tulsa in his age-23 season doesn’t tell the full story, but his OBP is hilarious — a .242 average with a .392 on-base is Kevin Youkilis-level stuff.

Before Chavez Ravine gets renamed Busch Stadium, there are plenty of “i”s to dot and “t”s to cross, of course. But with so many infield questions remaining in 2022 and beyond and a power and patience threat developing in the high minors, the Dodgers would be better served keeping Busch on board. If they jettison him as part of a package for, say, relief help in the form of Ian Kennedy or starter depth in the form of … well, Kyle Gibson, also a Ranger, they’re not going to be too pleased when it comes time to answer other 2021 offseason questions.

1. Keibert Ruiz

In the past, we’ve advocated for the Dodgers to figure out a plan for Keibert Ruiz, who’s been their top prospect for what feels like an eternity, leading to an unfair level of fatigue. That said, if Will Smith is the catcher of the future, where does Ruiz go? A high-profile trade package might be in the best interest of both sides.

Short of a trade for the likely-unavailable Scherzer, though, there’s no deal on the table on July 30 that makes sense for Ruiz. LA should at the very least hip pocket their biggest asset until the offseason.

We still don’t know where Ruiz goes, especially since cutting bait entirely with a potential multi-time All-Star like Smith seems ill-advised. Much like Chunky in “I Think You Should Leave,” Ruiz had all summer to figure out what he does, and he came back mashing behind the plate, which would be extremely helpful for most teams and is kind of redundant in Hollywood.

Ho-hum. He’s 23. He has a .958 OPS with 13 bombs at Triple-A. Meanwhile, JT Realmuto and Gary Sanchez are the only non-Dodger good catchers in all of Major League Baseball. Surely, Los Angeles would like to eventually share with the rest of the class.

We’re not confident in either Cartaya or Ruiz being part of the Dodgers’ long-term plan, and it’s likely they sell high on their 19-year-old breakout star when the season wraps. Not midsummer, though. Not worth it.

Dodgers: 3 changes that can help LA leapfrog Giants in second half

The Los Angeles Dodgers can leapfrog the San Francisco Giants in the second half of the 2021 season if they make these adjustments.