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3 fast-rising Dodgers prospects who could be trade bait
The Los Angeles Dodgers continue to be one of the most dominant forces in baseball. Their starting lineup featuring the likes of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and JD Martinez is arguably the best in MLB. The starting rotation that's still led by Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw has been solid of late as well.
What isn't talked about enough, though, is the fact that the Dodgers dominate the game in both Major and Minor League Baseball. Ranked as the No. 3 system by Baseball America (subscription required) heading into 2023 and No. 2 per MLB.com, it's a wonder how the organization is able to be so filled with talent quite literally from top to bottom.
With the graduation of Miguel Vargas from the top 100 lists as well as Bobby Miller, Michael Busch, Gavin Stone and Ryan Pepiot potentially doing the same at some point this year, the top prospect rankings for the Dodgers are going to look quite a bit different. What's most fascinating about the farm system is the fact that they're going to immediately be replaced by even more top-tier talent.
It's worth mentioning that when you have an embarrassment of riches like the Dodgers do, not every single prospect is going to have a simple path to the majors. In fact, there are quite a few of these young up-and-comers that may be better utilized as trade bait. Since they're firmly in the middle of a huge competition to get to the top of the organizational depth chart, sending some lottery tickets packing in exchange for, say, a high-caliber starting pitcher at the deadline, may be the best route to go for the club.
3 fast-rising Dodgers prospects who could be used as trade bait
RHP Landon Knack
Currently ranked as the No. 18 prospect in the Dodgers system, Landon Knack is yet another uber-talented young starter in an already stacked depth chart.
Knack, 25, has been leapfrogged by Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan, Michael Grove and Ryan Pepiot as he looks to make his big league debut. This is not because he isn't as good as the others, but rather because this organization is just that strong in the pitching department.
This year, Knack has made a total of 13 starts between both Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. In that time, he is 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 60 innings. His K/9, right around 10, is on par with many of the other arms in the system. He also has an HR/9 under 1.0 right now, which is a huge plus given he's pitched in two very hitter-friendly leagues this year.
Since there are so many other options at starting pitcher floating around the Dodgers, moving someone like Knack could be an option the club considers since he's just about big league-ready and could very easily help a team like the White Sox, who are shopping a few starters, in the near future.
C Dalton Rushing
As if having Will Smith as their primary catcher wasn't enough, the Dodgers are absolutely stacked at the position all throughout the farm system. Smith and Austin Barnes currently form the duo behind the plate at the big league level, but there are a ton of up-and-coming options the club can pick from.
While 21-year-old Diego Cartaya is the top backstop in the organization as far as prospects go, Dalton Rushing is another name to keep an eye on. However, there's reason to believe that the latter could be used in a potential trade deadline move rather than become a building block down the line.
Rushing, 22, began the current season in High-A with the Great Lakes Loons and has been hitting well for a batter that's very much still developing. In 46 games so far, he's hit seven home runs and drove in 32 while walking (40) nearly as much as he's striking out (48), which is an impressive ability to have for a player so young. Rushing's .939 OPS is also a massive mark for him, showing why the Dodgers have been so high on him for so long.
Cartaya is the elephant in the room here, though. He's experienced a bit of an offensive drop-off this season, but all signs are pointing to him being the next big thing for the Dodgers behind the plate. Beyond him, there's yet another option down in A-Ball that is widely expected to be a factor down the line. Thayron Liranzo, 19, has already hit 14 home runs in 52 games this year, posting an impressive .904 OPS and hitting well enough to put his name on the organization's radar in a big way.
With all of these high-end catchers around him in the system, Rushing is beginning to feel like the odd man out, and that's not because of his performance; in fact, his numbers are better than Cartaya's and Liranzo's. However, since Rushing is hitting so well and looks to be inching closer and closer to a big league debut, he also will represent the most attractive trade chip that could conceivably be moved. The Dodgers are sky-high on Cartaya, so this would mean that Rushing takes top spot for "most tradeable young catcher." If he's moved, he could easily be a centerpiece in a trade for an impact arm at the deadline.
RHP River Ryan
As is the case with Landon Knack, right-hander River Ryan just doesn't seem to have a linear path to the big leagues.
Originally drafted by the division-rival San Diego Padres back in the 2021 MLB Draft, Ryan was traded to the Dodgers in March of last year in exchange for utilityman Matt Beaty, who is already out of the Padres organization. Seems the Dodgers rather easily won this trade.
Ryan, 24, has made a total of 27 appearances since coming over in the deal and he has been money for the Dodgers' A-Ball, High-A and Double-A affiliates. Last year, he struck out over 13 batters per nine innings (15 outings and 47.2 innings) while only surrendering four home runs all year.
Fast forward to the current campaign, Ryan has made 12 appearances (10 starts) and continues to be an absolute force. In 45 innings, he has a 3.00 ERA with 49 strikeouts and again just four home runs allowed. His career K/9 rate is 11.6, which is in line with countless other promising young arms in this Dodgers system.
As is the case with Knack and now Ryan, the Dodgers are simply dealing with an embarrassment of riches that they can seemingly deal from whenever. There are so many more options than just these two, including Emmet Sheehan and Nick Nastrini, who fit the high-strikeout bill that other teams would covet.