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3 Dodgers trades that can help LA win the offseason

By Adam Weinrib |
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 17: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after recording a strikeout in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park on September 17, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 17: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds reacts after recording a strikeout in the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park on September 17, 2021 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
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PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 01: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on October 1, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – OCTOBER 01: Luis Castillo #58 of the Cincinnati Reds in action during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on October 1, 2021 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t done much this offseason, but they’re positioned better than almost any team when the MLB lockout ends.

As much as Corey Seager’s departure might’ve stung, it was clear the Dodgers prepared for it last summer by acquiring Trea Turner and holding onto Gavin Lux. As much as Max Scherzer bolting for the Mets might’ve hurt the depth chart … OK, there’s actually no upside to that one, which is the impetus for most of our theoretical trades listed below.

LA bringing Chris Taylor back was a stroke of genius just before the world shut down, and the offense will theoretically be fine no matter what happens when the curtain rises again on 2022, but the pitching … folks, the pitching …

Scherzer is gone. Clayton Kershaw is still technically floating out there. The 2021 Offseason Signing Who Must Not Be Named probably isn’t rejoining MLB anytime soon. Tony Gonsolin isn’t a sure thing. David Price was fairly unpitchable in his comeback season. Dustin May will be ready … someday.

Oh, and unrelated, but Max Muncy still isn’t ready. Perhaps the Universal DH could be good for him.

Bottom line, the so-called “luxury” trades we’ve gotten used to from this Dodgers regime won’t be quite so luxurious whenever they drop before the 2022 season. They’ll actually be pretty damned necessary in order for LA to compete with the NL’s best.

All that complaining out of the way, though … has anybody “won” the offseason? Really? The full-of-holes Mets splurged and stole the headlines, but the jury’s still out there and there’s simply no way of knowing their rotation is healthy. The Texas Rangers, a hardcore last-place team, added two star middle infielders and the Rockies’ No. 3 starter. The Detroit Tigers? OK, we actually like their offseason quite a bit, but they don’t have so much momentum the Dodgers can’t steal it.

With these three trades, Los Angeles could lengthen their rotation, break some hearts at first base, and win the offseason.

3 trades that could help the Dodgers win the offseason.

3. Dodgers Trade for Luis Castillo

Hey, we’ve been begging for this forever, so it’s time to hop back on the bandwagon, batten down the hatches, and let people know: Tyler Mahle’s available. Sonny Gray’s available. And Luis Castillo probably is, too.

We’re not saying the Dodgers should skirt lockout rules and give the Reds an illegal call before any other teams have the chance to, but … we’re not not saying that.

Early in 2021, it felt like Los Angeles had dodged a bullet by not paying a premium for Castillo’s services before the campaign started. It also felt like they might be able to swipe him at a bargain after this year wrapped. Neither of those notions are now true.

Castillo shook off a brutal May (0-6, 8.04 ERA, lower velocity) to rebound tremendously, going 2-2 with a 1.71 ERA in June and throwing up a second half that looked a lot more like the Castillo we remember (lol, he’s still just freshly 29).

5-6, 3.18 ERA, 96 whiffs in 85 innings. That work for you?

In order to woo Castillo, the Dodgers will need to part with one of their top three remaining prospects as a headliner (likely Ryan Pepiot or Michael Busch), then back that up with another top-10 name and two more top-30 fillers. Would you pull that trigger? Without Scherzer, Bauer and Kershaw, the Dodgers might not have a choice.

TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 02: John Means #47 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 2, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON – OCTOBER 02: John Means #47 of the Baltimore Orioles delivers a pitch in the first inning during a MLB game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on October 2, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

2. Dodgers Trade for John Means

This deal would look a lot better if Kershaw came back too, wouldn’t it? One Hall of Fame lefty tutoring his theoretical replacement on how to plus up his curveball and make several straight All-Star teams? Sign us up, as long as Baltimore’s ready to have a real conversation about John Means, rather than just floating his name.

Means remains under control through 2024, and battled back from assorted injury issues and a step back in the shortened 2020 to throw a no-hitter, earn the O’s 4.0 WAR, and post a 1.030 WHIP for a bedraggled Orioles club that really back him up all that often (6-9 record on the season, nice).

What would it take to pry Means loose from the rebuilding Orioles? It’s impossible to say what this O’s team is actually looking for. Would they like to supplement Cedric Mullins and Adley Rutschman and actually compete relatively soon? Then they could be interested in Busch, Bobby Miller and Andre Jackson. If they’re giving Means away, it might signal they’re starting the cycle all over again, though, and would rather target faraway lottery tickets like Cartaya, Andy Pages, Wilman Diaz, and Maddux Bruns.

We’re going to draw a line in the sand and say Means isn’t the type of absolute sure thing you surrender Cartaya for, so maybe a hybrid package makes more sense; Busch, Diaz and Bruns. Who says no?

HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics bats in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 02: Matt Olson #28 of the Oakland Athletics bats in the first inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on October 02, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

1. Dodgers Trade for Matt Olson

I know y’all like Freddie Freeman. Hometown boy. Role model. MVP. Perfect solution, as long as the NL absorbs the DH and Max Muncy is able to rehab/play a little second base by midsummer.

But … he’s going back to the Braves. Sorry. That relationship is only “fractured” as much as it needs to be in order to get a sixth year guaranteed on that contract.

So, assuming Freeman returns to the South, what better way to make a first base statement than to block the Yankees from improving and take away their only shot at an offseason blockbuster?

In order to secure Matt Olson’s final two years of control, the Dodgers are going to have to lay everything in their prospect pool out on the table and make it all available. Probably three top-10 guys will need to change hands. But, you know what? It’s worth it. Olson is coming off a superstar season (153 OPS+, 5.8 WAR, 39 bombs) and has the perfect swing for hooking fastballs out along the right-field line. Theoretically, he feels like a luxury and not a need — especially when we’re talking a Cartaya/Miller/Pages package — but ask yourself this: if you’re willing to lock down Freeman for six years and shuffle the deck chairs just because he’s a hometown kid, why wouldn’t you be willing to trade assets for somebody better?

First base is a need, whether it’s Freeman or Olson, as long as the first baseman you add is a blue-chipper. Don’t bend over backwards to sign Anthony Rizzo just because of some residual Muncy uncertainty, but if you can add one of these top two names, you do it without asking questions.

That’s what’s made the Dodgers the Dodgers, after all.

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