3 easiest top prospects Dodgers can trade at the deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a good season thus far, despite what you might read on social media. That being said, there are undoubtedly holes on the roster that Andrew Friedman and the front office would like to fix at the deadline.

Besides Oneil Cruz and Yordan Alvarez, the Dodgers have been pretty good about trading the right prospects. Former top-100 prospects like Grant Holmes, Yusniel Diaz and Willie Calhoun have not lived up to the billing for their new teams.

It is imperative that if the Dodgers do make a splash at the deadline that they trade the right prospect(s). That decision might be easy to make, though, as some prospects in the farm system are easier to trade than others.

Here are the 3 easiest top prospects for the Dodgers to trade at the deadline:

3. Kody Hoese, 3B

Kody Hoese is currently ranked 24th in the Dodgers’ farm system on MLB Pipeline but there was a time in which he was a bonafide top-10 prospect for LA. Things simply have not worked out for the 2019 first-round pick and his stock as dropped as a result.

Hoese had a really bad 2021 season in which he slashed .196/.247/.250 between Double-A and rookie ball. The infield prospect recorded more strikeouts (59) than he did base hits (51) in 2021. Things have gotten better for Hoese in 2022, as he has a .286/.307/.435 slash line. That still is not great, however.

The Dodgers are not going to get the same kind of return for Hoese that they would have if they traded him during the 2020 season. Is he going to be the centerpiece of a big deal? Absolutely not.

However, he could be flipped for a mid-tier reliever or be part of a bigger package. Even if he starts playing better, Hoese is blocked by multiple top prospects ahead of him (Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas, Jorbit Vivas) who likely won’t be traded.

1. Landon Knack, RHP

Obviously, the list of prospects that the Dodgers could end up actually trading is much longer than just three. However, when it comes to pinpointing the easiest prospects to move, there are only three players that really stand out above the rest.

The best of those players is Landon Knack, who checks in as MLB Pipeline’s seventh overall prospect in the Dodgers system. While that might not seem very high, that might be the highest that the Dodgers are actually willing to go when it comes to a trade.

This year is different, and you could make a case for the Dodgers keeping all six of the top-six prospects in the organization. Granted, there could always be a blockbuster that develops that could change things, but it would be legitimately shocking if anyone one through six was dealt.

Sixth-rated Ryan Pepiot already made his MLB debut and is killing it at Oklahoma City. He is going to be in the rotation next season. Fifth-rated Vargas is the obvious Justin Turner replacement plan. Fourth-rated Andy Pages is the only outfield prospect in the top 13. Third-rated Michael Busch is obviously the long-term Max Muncy replacement plan. Second-rated Bobby Miller is too good to trade and first-rated Diego Cartaya is the catcher of the future.

Out of those six, Michael Busch is probably the most likely to be traded, but he certainly is not an easy prospect to trade, especially with there being question marks around an impending Trea Turner extension.

Landon Knack makes the cut, as he is a talented right-handed pitcher who can get a decent return for the Dodgers. Knack is expendable, as the Dodgers have two right-handed pitchers ranked ahead of him, as well as right-handed Andre Jackson ranked below him. Jackson made his MLB debut last season and pitched well, albeit he is struggling in Triple-A this season.

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Knack is not going to warrant some superstar return, but he absolutely can be the centerpiece of a larger package for a good reliever or good outfielder.

It might not be the massive trade that Dodger fans are used to, but given the circumstances, it makes sense for LA.