3 Dodgers offseason dreams that are dead or dying by the day
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Los Angeles Dodgers fans are sitting, waiting for the team to make its first big splash of the offseason. The signings of Jason Heyward and Ricky Vanasco filled up the 40-man roster, but many have suspected multiple trades are on the way to clear space.
And how about those trades? What's going on with them? There were seemingly so many lined up for the Dodgers to pick from and then ... they all kind of dissipated. The free agent signings were never going to be plentiful, and fans have to say they still like their chances with Shohei Ohtani.
But if the Dodgers are spending all that money in one spot, they probably can't get overly aggresive with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. Just the way it is.
That's why the trade market was so important. But there have largely been crickets. Tyler Glasnow is supposed to be on the move, but there's yet to be a link to LA. Same goes for Shane Bieber. We'll mention a few others below that have seemingly lost steam, too.
Once upon a time the opportunities felt plentiful. Now? We'll have to hope for a revival in the coming days or at the Winter Meetings.
3 Dodgers offseason dreams that are dead or dying by the day
Nolan Arenado
Dead. Flatlined. When the offseason buzz was growing prior to the World Series, there was a real possibility of the Cardinals tearing down their operation after a disheartening 2023 season. And Dodgers fans immediately zoned in on Nolan Arenado.
But over the past couple weeks, the Cardinals stated their intention to get back into the winner's circle come 2024 by signing Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn and Sonny Gray. They're also reportedly interested in another arm coming on this list.
They're not done going after relievers, either, as the bullpen reportedly remains a focus. They have plenty of trade chips to dangle in Tyler O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, and others. The pipe dream of Arenado will have to wait for the next Cards' collapse.
Dylan Cease
Yup, St. Louis joined the Dylan Cease sweepstakes, too, alongside the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Cincinnati Reds. Not exactly what the Dodgers want to hear because that's a prospect bidding war waiting to happen.
Recent reports have also suggested the White Sox could wait to trade Cease until after Yamamoto and Snell sign so they further corner the starting pitching market. Even then, that probably wouldn't eliminate any of the above names because spending money doesnt take anybody out of trade discussions.
What feels even worse is that the Dodgers were seemingly first to the party. Then the Braves popped in after interrupting LA's Aaron Nola pursuit, too. Cease is from Milton, GA, so that could play an immense factor, too. Fans are frustrated the Braves continue to get in the way, and are also among the suitors for Glasnow.
All hope on a Cease trade isn't lost, but it definitely doesn't feel imminent or even all that likely right now. The hope was for the Dodgers to get one pitcher before the Winter Meetings so they wouldn't have to do too much work on that front. Looks like that ain't happening.
Corbin Burnes
It's only gotten worse since MLB insider Ken Rosenthal threw cold water on the Brewers' chances of trading Corbin Burnes. There's been ... nothing to report. Unless you want to count Jon Morosi saying the Dodgers are "enamored" with the right-hander, something a 16-year-old Dodgers fan could've told you.
Burnes has been a trade candidate for what feels like forever. Had the Brewers not experienced a resurgent 2023, he probably would've been somewhere else in August. But the Brew Crew got their act together and apparently remain confident enough to compete in what's still a weak NL Central.
They just extended top prospect Jackson Chourio to an eight-year, $80 million deal before he even reached Triple-A. Outside of Brandon Woodruff and Craig Counsell, they didn't really suffer any losses. And Counsell's departure within the division (he left for the Cubs) has them out for blood in 2024, it would seem.
If that's the case, they have almost no incentive to trade Burnes now. They can see how they do through June/July and then move the Cy Young winner at the deadline when there will be even more demand for him. Much like the Padres with Juan Soto, it's a win-win from their perspective.
And it's more uncertainty for the Dodgers.
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