Dodgers-Brewers trade you weren’t thinking of gains steam before Winter Meetings

The previous trade rumors surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers featured star players who are unlikely to be moved in shortstop Willy Adames and ace Corbin Burnes. Not only would the Brewers be waving the white flag by trading two of the game’s best and most cost-effective players, but the Dodgers would also be paying out the wazoo to acquire just one of them.

There’s no sense in the Dodgers mortgaging their entire future by trading promising MLB-ready prospects for just a couple of years of either of those two players. The price and timeline do not coincide whatsoever.

Just because LA has vacancies at shortstop and in the rotation doesn’t mean they’ll be paying whatever it takes to get better in the short term. This organization constantly has an eye for the future and Andrew Friedman always makes calculated deals to ensure the farm system remains healthy.

What he will do, though, is acquire more reasonably priced short-term assets that can help the team win now, as he preserves his best assets to provide the foundation for the next era of Dodgers baseball.

So, we’re pleased to aggregate that there’s finally a realistic trade candidate that’s emerged from the Dodgers-Brewers buzz: Kolten Wong!

Dodgers Rumors: Kolten Wong emerges as real Brewers trade candidate

That’s more like it. A veteran player on an expiring contract that is considered to be a financial burden on Milwaukee’s small-market payroll.

Wong is set to earn $10 million in 2023, which is a totally fair price for a player of his caliber. He’s a Gold Glove defender at second base and has the ability to hit for average and power. He put up career numbers in 2022 with 15 home runs and 118 OPS+.

Here’s what MLB insider Ken Rosenthal wrote in his column after when reporting on the matter (subscription required):

"“One possible scenario: Trade for Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong, a player the Dodgers like, according to major-league sources. Sign one of the big four free-agent shortstops. Play Max Muncy and perhaps even Gavin Lux at third.“A trade of Burnes, Woodruff or Adames would be out of character for owner Mark Attanasio, who has avoided taking a step backward in the past.”"

The Dodgers could go for the jugular and acquire Wong, sign one of the free agent shortstops, and then mix and match Muncy/Lux however they please, but, again, that feels unrealistic based on what’s been reported thus far. Acquiring Wong, shifting Lux to shortstop, and using Muncy/Miguel Vargas at third while addressing center field and the rotation seems like a more holistic approach.

The waiting/speculating has been rather exhausting. The Winter Meetings could provide concrete answers, but at the very least the next week could bring the market into focus and narrow down certain scenarios the Dodgers might be considering.