Dodgers reportedly pivoting from Teoscar Hernández trade to these 2 fringe players

The shocking Teoscar Hernández rumors that popped up earlier in the offseason were predicated on the idea that the Dodgers were going to trade for an outfielder. All of the insiders believed the Dodgers were going to prioritize trading for a cheap, defensively proficient, controllable corner outfielder in the vein of Steven Kwan, rather than signing Kyle Tucker or Cody Bellinger.

And then, they signed Tucker.

Hernández probably got the Jeff Passan notification, same as everyone else, and breathed a sigh of relief. His roster spot remains intact. Now, the easiest solution is shifting Hernández to allow for a Hernández-Pages-Tucker outfield from left to right — and the Dodgers will be much, much better off without Hernández's awful defense in right.

But now that Hernández is seemingly off the block and the Dodgers are still circling yet more additions this offseason (Freddy Peralta? Tarik Skubal?), they're pivoting to other trade options to dangle.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote the Dodgers are "more likely to explore deals for outfielder Ryan Ward, a career minor leaguer who last season was MVP of the Pacific Coast League at 27, or right-hander Bobby Miller, who has been a disappointment."

The Dodgers do still need to clear a 40-man spot to make their Tucker signing official.

Dodgers pivoting to Ryan Ward, Bobby Miller as trade options after Kyle Tucker signing

Ahead of the Tucker signing, Katie Woo alluded to Miller's trade value being higher than Dodgers fans would expect. Other teams could look at him as a reclamation project. Getting away from a high-pressure, highly competitive roster like the Dodgers' could be the best thing for him. The Dodgers have untold pitching depth with Gavin Stone and River Ryan returning from injury to compete with Emmet Sheehan, Landon Knack, and Justin Wrobleski for innings, and they don't need Miller taking up the roster space.

Ward was added to the 40-man for the first time in his career in November, to keep him from going into minor league free agency. GM Brandon Gomes has insisted that LA will find ways for Ward to get at-bats in the majors, but he also might be better off if he's allowed to blossom in a different environment that can actually afford to give him those at-bats.

But what all of this really boils down to is that the Dodgers aren't done, even with just three weeks before pitchers and catchers report. The next few days will be interesting to keep an eye on as the Dodgers look for players to trim to make way for Tucker.