3 prospects Dodgers cleared a path for after active trade deadline

The Dodgers gave up five prospects/minor leaguers at the trade deadline: Thayron Liranzo and Trey Sweeney for Jack Flaherty, veteran signee Michael Flynn for Amed Rosario, and Jeral Perez and Alexander Albertus for Tommy Edman and Michael Kopech. Four out of five of those names were top prospects in the Dodgers organization, but they only dropped down one place (from No. 3 to 4) on FanGraphs' farm system list, despite the moves.

None of the names that were traded are particularly well-known to fans. Dalton Rushing, Josue De Paula, and Diego Cartaya all stayed put. The Dodgers only traded away a couple of major leaguers, but they still likely opened avenues for some of their top prospects to get a shot at the show next season.

3 prospects Dodgers cleared a path for after active trade deadline

Austin Gauthier

Gauthier, the Dodgers' No. 23 prospect, has been steadily working his way up through the farm system since 2021, and he was promoted to Triple-A in early May. His power has been down since the promotion (.368 slugging), but his on-base percentage continues to be exceptional — .388 in Triple-A and .445 in Double-A. Gauthier's versatility could be key to him getting a call up next season as a clear bench replacement for Miguel Vargas, who was traded to the White Sox as part of the three-way deal between the Dodgers, Sox, and Cardinals that sent Tommy Edman to LA.

This year, he's played every position except catcher, first, and center field, but has logged most of his time in left, which is almost exclusively where the Dodgers played Vargas this year before the trade. MLB Pipeline likes Gauthier more at second base for the long-term, but he could fit in nicely with Edman next season as a rotating piece of the defense.

Not only is Vargas gone, but Kiké Hernández, Jason Heyward, Nick Ahmed, Amed Rosario, Kevin Kiermaier, and Teoscar Hernández's contracts all expire at the end of this season. If any/all aren't re-signed and move onto other teams for 2025, it could be the perfect time to give a prospect an opportunity to prove what he can do at the major league level.

Dalton Rushing

Rushing's path to the majors with the Dodgers seemed well and truly cooked when they extended Will Smith for 10 years. Austin Barnes won't stay forever, but it's unlikely that the Dodgers will employ their No. 1 prospect as a backup catcher; that role is more likely to go to Diego Cartaya, if he can actually start hitting a little better in Triple-A. Rushing is also a first baseman, but that avenue is blocked by Freddie Freeman.

It would make sense if the Dodgers are just keeping Rushing in reserve to use as a trade piece if/when the likes of Garrett Crochet are finally on the trade block — for real, this time. None of the trades they made at the deadline this year warranted giving up Rushing (though the Tigers probably should've pushed more for him in the Flaherty trade), so he stayed put, presumably to be used as a trade chip for any big offseason acquisitions.

However, the Dodgers might also be retooling him to try to get him to the majors in LA. On Thursday night, he made his third start in left field for the Double-A Drillers. If they are trying to convert him into an outfielder, just like they did with Vargas, he could be in the same position as Gauthier as a potential corner outfield option next season.

He's still in Double-A, so a major league debut isn't likely until at least midseason next year, but this could be a sign that the Dodgers are committing to him seriously as a long-term guy for them.

Nick Frasso

In February, the Dodgers revealed that Frasso had undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum in November and would miss most or all of the 2024 season. It threw a wrench into their plans for him; if he'd stayed healthy, he likely would've gotten his MLB debut long before Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski, or River Ryan, who have all been brought up this year.

A projected Dodgers rotation in 2025 would feature a lot of probables, but few guarantees. Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto are in, but Shohei Ohtani, Tony Gonsolin, and Clayton Kershaw are all maybes (Ohtani and Gonsolin have been hurt, Kershaw has a player option). LA could sign Flaherty in the offseason, but that's not a guarantee. Walker Buehler is in a walk year, and with how he's been performing, it's not looking like the Dodgers will want to keep him. The rookies — Gavin Stone, Knack, Wrobleski, Ryan — will have to keep fighting for the remaining spots.

If all went wrong and Frasso is able to come back for some rehab starts this season and be a factor at spring training next season, there's a chance he could break into the rotation. If not, the Dodgers did just let go of Ryan Yarbrough, one of their most trusty bulk relievers in the bullpen. That could be a solution to ease Frasso into the majors after a major surgery.