Dodgers insider speculates Reds, Athletics could be trade partners for pitching
At the moment, the Los Angeles Dodgersâ 2022 roster is far from complete. While the starting nine is set, the depth and pitching staff need some serious work.
And if Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen donât come back, itâs going to be even worse. It was hard enough for LA to replace Joc Pederson and KikĂ© Hernandez ⊠so whatâs going to happen when two team legends depart?
In terms of the Dodgersâ needs, free agency is fairly barren unless they want to make a costly splash at a position that doesnât necessarily require a glaring replacement. Thatâs why thereâs belief Andrew Friedman is going to hit the trade market with aggression when the lockout is lifted.
When it comes to starting pitchers, the Dodgers are looking at a reunion with Kershaw or a short-term high AAV deal for Carlos Rodon as the most notable options on the open market. But teams around the league have assets theyâre willing to part with, and the Dodgers have the leagueâs eighth-best farm system.
Who might the Dodgers contact to discuss starting pitching trades?
Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (subscription required) conducted Part 2 of his mailbag on Thursday and gave us some insight on what he thinks LA might do to address the rotation when transactions are permitted again.
"âDo I believe the Dodgers will add another starter, potentially beyond bringing back Kershaw? I think itâs likely. But will it be someone at the top of this free-agent class? Iâm not so sure. I think it would make sense for the Dodgers to swing a deal for a controllable starter on one of several clubs who donât seem that interested in competing (Oaklandâs Chris Bassitt and Frankie Montas come to mind, along with Cincinnatiâs Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray), though the Dodgers have had to dig into their farm system of late.â"
Weâve previously written/speculated about potential matches with the Aâs and Reds, but it always helps to be validated by a trusted insider. Additionally, the Aâs have Sean Manaea who could be available, giving the Dodgers a left-handed option. Right now, however, weâre unsure what it would take to land one of these five arms since everythingâs been on hold and Oakland and Cincinnati havenât been able to compare offers.
The Dodgers havenât neglected this front completely, but weâre willing to say Andrew Heaney, Daniel Hudson, Carson Fulmer and Sam Gaviglio wonât be enough to make this a 95-win team.
One of the aforementioned five arms, however, would give them a formidable 1-2-3 punch even without Kershaw. Throw in the possibility top prospects Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepiot might be ready during the second half of the season (and more than likely wonât be moved in one of these deals), and the Dodgers will be in fairly good shape.
But they definitely have to make a trade to insure themselves from Trevor Bauerâs situation and Kershawâs possible retirement/departure or else weâll be looking at overused pitchers faltering down the stretch just like we did in 2021.