Dodgers GM's comments make it sound like a trade involving top prospect outfielders is coming

The Los Angeles Dodgers' competitive advantage that gets the most attention is their financial might. There's a good reason for that, of course, but it's not the only thing that separates Los Angeles from the rest of the pack.

Whether you believe it's smoke and mirrors or smart scouting and world-class player development, the Dodgers' consistently top-ranked farm system is yet another point of leverage they enjoy over the rest of the league.

There's a cost to that, however, and outfield prospect Ryan Ward might be the poster child for it. A 2019 eighth-round pick, Ward just turned 28 last month. He's currently the Dodgers' 20th-ranked prospect, and for a player who has avoided serious injuries, it is almost a mystery as to why he hasn't gotten a shot to make his big league debut yet.

Ward has spent three straight years at Triple-A Oklahoma City with numerous accolades to his name. The past two seasons, he's hit 33 and 36 homers at the level, respectively. Yet the star-studded collection of players at the big league level has proven to be an impenetrable ceiling that he just can't crack. Soon, he might not be alone. The Dodgers have a plethora of young outfielders at the top of their prospect list, but opportunities will still be scarce.

All of that foreshadows a trade (or several trades) might be on the horizon as Los Angeles balances the future with the quest for a three-peat, all the while trying to maximize assets and sell-high on some and protect the keepers.

Brandon Gomes' assessment of the Dodgers' outfield depth signals that a trade of top prospects could be on the horizon

Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, and Mike Sirota make up the Dodgers' top four prospects. They're all outfielders. There are many, many more making up the top-30. Many of them also complicate the path for a guy like Ward.

In speaking about Ward's plight, Brandon Gomes called it the "double-edged sword" of being in the Dodgers' system. The younger kids might soon find the same fate. And even if they get a chance, if they don't capitalize immediately, they might find that the opportunity can quickly evaporate.

Consider the plight of former top catching prospect Dalton Rushing. He's blocked at his natural position until 2033 by superstar Will Smith. When injuries gave him an opportunity last season, he didn't immediately capitalize. Then, over the offseason, when Los Angeles had a hole in the outfield, he volunteered to switch positions to try to help out on the grass. Instead, the club went out and signed the top free agent in the class, Kyle Tucker, to fill the vacancy.

For the outfielders, it's even worse. Not only do they have to worry about being blocked by the major league stars, but they have to worry about each other cannibalizing playing time and getting passed by by a peer.

That makes the situation untenable. A trade is inevitable. There are only a few questions. First, which player or players will serve as the trade bait? Will it be a younger outfielder on the verge of breaking out, like Ching-Hsien Ko? Will it be one of the top-end guys like the four mentioned above? Will it be someone else in the mix?

The next questions are when a trade would happen and what the Dodgers would be looking for in return. These are easier to answer. It all depends on need, and that will unfold with time.

What is abundantly clear, however, is that some of these guys will be shipped out. And if the Dodgers follow their past tendencies, the guy or guys they choose to trade away will soon look like fool's good as they yet again pull off another fleecing.