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11 Dodgers most likely to be traded after Jason Heyward signing
The Los Angeles Dodgers made their second signing of the offseason when they brought back outfielder Jason Heyward on a one-year deal to presumably continue his role as a platoon player in 2024.
Heyward experienced his best full season since 2015 during his showing last year with the Dodgers, who signed him to a minor-league contract at Freddie Freeman's request. The former Braves teammates are still friends and that chemistry very clearly played a role in Heyward's resurgence.
The deal will reportedly pay Heyward $9 million for the 2024 season and, when it becomes official, will max out the 40-man roster, which was at 39 before this move. You know what that means! After the Dodgers tendered a contract to all 13 of their arbitration-eligible players, trades are on the way.
If the Dodgers are going to make a couple of high-profile free agent signings (the've been incessantly linked to Shohei Ohtani and went after Aaron Nola before he re-signed with the Phillies), they'll have to clear space. As we've noted before, there's a lot of fodder on this 40-man that needs to go.
But based on value and role alone, who are the most likely Dodgers to be traded between now and the start of next year? Expect a couple of roster-shaking moves by the end of next week when the Winter Meetings conclude.
Dodgers signing Jason Heyward foreshadowing departure for these 11 players
Group 3: Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, Emmet Sheehan, Ryan Yarbrough
Pitching is a gigantic area of weakness for the Dodgers, and these four arms don't exactly change the team's 2024 outlook. Grove isn't an asset beyond eating innings out of the bullpen. Stone's value is at its lowest after he failed during his showings at the big-league level. Sheehan showed promise, which could interest teams looking to re-tool or rebuild. And Yarbrough is a veteran on an expiring contract with the ability to pitch in the rotation or out of the bullpen.
The Dodgers, for the most part, have little use for all them if they truly want to upgrade and avoid another letdown campaign. When Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin are placed on the 60-day IL, that'll clear up some roster space, but you can't possibly tell us the Dodgers will be done after adding two pitchers.
There need to be at least five new faces joining the staff, which means at least three of these guys will be on the way out.
Group 2: Diego Cartaya, Hunter Feduccia, Jonny Deluca, Jorbit Vivas
The Dodgers currently employ four catchers on the 40-man roster, which is untenable. Austin Barnes will be a free agent after 2024, which means one of Cartaya and Feduccia might stick around, but that all depends on the organization's plan with top prospect Dalton Rushing, who logged 46 impressive games at catcher in 2023.
As for Deluca and Vivas? We're just not sure how much longer the Dodgers can use valuable 40-man spots on guys who aren't cemented into the big picture. Deluca actualy wasn't bad in his 24-game cameo in 2023, but it also doesn't seem like he's done enough to earn a guaranteed role moving forward. Vivas got the promotion to Triple-A in 2023, but his bat struggled in 26 games before the season ended. Neither can realistically make the Opening Day roster, given the team's "logjam" with fellow top prospects Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas and Andy Pages, all of whom are either ready for MLB action or have more potential.
Because if Heyward's going to be the fourth outfielder, there's just no chance someone like Deluca will start alongside Mookie Betts and James Outman. There's also little room in the infield with Gavin Lux returning to further cloud the picture with Miguel Rojas, Max Muncy, Chris Taylor and Busch/Vargas.
Say goodbye to three of these four in the coming weeks/months.
Group 1: Gavin Lux, Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas
Here's where it gets more dicey. Lux was in an MLB.com proposed trade that saw the Dodgers get Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames in return. Busch has been an eternal trade candidate, especially after his lack of usage in the second half of 2023. Vargas was long considered a cornerstone, but the Dodgers gave him a shot and had no choice but to send him back down to Triple-A for the remainder of 2023 after he faltered.
It's very much hard to see at least two of these players eating up 40-man spots come Opening Day. The Dodgers have already perhaps telegraphed their plans, too, claiming Busch and Vargas will get corner outfield reps (why?) and not fully committing to Lux as their starting shortstop, instead claiming "the plan" is for Lux to "log a good amount of starts" at the position in 2024. What kind of contender has a part-time shortstop?
Their trade values might not be sky-high, but teams looking to shake things up could be valuing them as youthful, controllable, change-of-scenery candidates. The Dodgers will have to give to get, but they'll also be eyeing smaller deals to improve their immediate future. Call us crazy, but right now, Lux, Busch and Vargas probably aren't elevating the Dodgers in 2024.
So what makes anybody think that'll be the case from 2025-2029?
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