Dodgers may have found perfect trade target in wake of latest rumors

There might’ve been some positive buzz trending in the right direction for the Los Angeles Dodgers over the last few days, but the questions surrounding their starting rotation remain. 

There’s optimism that Clayton Kershaw will return … but he’s also spoken to the Texas Rangers. Nobody really has any idea what’s going on with Max Scherzer. Don’t expect to see Trevor Bauer ever again. Dustin May’s rehab is looking promising, but he’ll likely be slated for a midsummer return.

Los Angeles did sign Andrew Heaney, but come on. That’s not a real solution. He was statistically one of the worst pitchers in baseball last year and has yet to show a shred of promise/consistency during his big league career. We’ll call that a bonus if the Dodgers can “unlock” his “stuff.”

A truly viable option and upgrade might be available on the trade market, however. So it’s time for Andrew Friedman to hit the phones. According to the latest buzz, the Baltimore Orioles are “dangling” left-hander John Means in trade talks.

The Dodgers should capitalize on the latest John Means trade rumors.

Means is a crafty finesse pitcher who’s shown tremendous potential despite his underlying statistics not being so great. He gets hit pretty hard and isn’t exactly a strikeout machine (134 Ks in 146 innings in 2021). This is the kind of pitcher the Dodgers’ staff would have a field day working with. The potential has already been tapped, it just needs to be sustained and refined.

Heaney is a reclamation project that … was never right to begin with. Means threw a no-hitter this past season, was an All-Star in 2019, and has been tested by a very tough AL East division that sports some of the best offenses in MLB.

He’s been a top-of-the-rotation arm for the Orioles and has found a way to thrive in a role where he’s the lone capable pitcher on a bottom-barrel team. Put him in the middle of a Dodgers rotation surrounded by guys like Walker Buehler and Julio Urías (at least) with a potent offense behind him. Changes everything. Bring Kershaw back? And Means, who’s 28, has a mentor.

The O’s will be looking for a few top prospects here, but the price may not be as steep as it once was. Means stumbled in the second half last year and battled a shoulder injury. The appeal here? Quality pitching under team control through 2025. The Dodgers can afford to part with younger talent to ensure their rotation continues to keep their championship window open.

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