3 surprise trades Dodgers can make when MLB Lockout ends

1. “Razor” Ramon Laureano and Sean Manaea

It doesn’t exactly solve the Dodgers’ “bullpen problem” — and believe us, we tried, but outside of Lou Trivino, who’s controlled through 2024, there isn’t really an appealing option on the theoretically non-competitive A’s roster.

So, we opted to fill two other holes here: outfield depth and the No. 3 starter slot, which will need to be addressed whether Clayton Kershaw returns or not.

As of this writing, that space is a blank hole, with Andrew Heaney and Tony Gonsolin expected to take the No.4 and 5 slots until Dustin May returns. For a contender? That’s not good enough.

It’s become quite in vogue these days to pick through the Oakland roster and decide who stays and who goes, but there’s a reason for it. Unless Oakland wants to pursue the ultimate half-measure and win without Matt Olson and Matt Chapman, whose forthcoming departures have long been discussed, then they should let their rotation go, too, as everyone above James Kaprielian is scheduled to hit free agency in the not-so-distant future, too.

You want to run it back for one more season? Sure! We would! But tell that to A’s management, a group of seedy trolls who let Bob Melvin walk. Seems like they, uh, told him something about their financial plans that didn’t sit well. Just us?

So, we’re giving the Dodgers a roving outfielder and a No. 3 starter in this fire sale. Laureano can fill in for Cody Bellinger in center if Bellinger has to move to first to cover for Max Muncy, and he can help the Dodgers’ depth for ~110 games per year of floating and filling gaps. An elite defender, Laureano only got into 88 games last season (though that was the result of, uh … a steroid suspension that hasn’t ended yet), putting up 2.6 WAR in the process. He’s controllable through 2024, and can take on a bigger role in LA when AJ Pollock’s contract ends or a decision must be made on Bellinger’s future.

As for Manaea? The near-30-year-old hits free agency after the 2022 season, and why wouldn’t he want to either learn from Clayton Kershaw or replace him? Baby Giraffe is coming off an 11-10 season where he whiffed 194 in just 179.1 innings pitched, piling up 3.4 WAR. He’d be the prize here, but he’d also only be around for one season.

Still … he’s exactly what the Dodgers need. How about Michael Busch, Andre Jackson and Zach McKinstry for the pair?

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