4 Dodgers most likely to be dealt at the 2023 trade deadline

More trades are coming for the Los Angeles Dodgers, especially if we're to believe their widespread interest in names such as Justin Verlander, Mitch Keller and Brady Singer, per the latest coming out of the MLB rumor mill.

Though LA's been impressive this year, its roster is still far from complete, particularly in the pitching department. That's probably where most of the focus will be, especially after the acquisitions of Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario (because, let's face it, Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn aren't going to transform the staff overnight).

Many have wondered who the Dodgers might be willing to part with, and anyone's guess is as good as ours. Friedman's yet to part with anything of note, surrendering two Triple-A pitchers for Hernandez, Noah Syndergaard for Rosario, and Trayce Thompson, Jordan Leasure and Nick Nastrini (OK, he's probably the only one we'll miss) for Kelly and Lynn.

All we're saying is that plenty of assets remain. Also ... so does some dead weight that the front office might be more inclined to get rid of if the right opportunity presents itself. Before Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, all four of these guys on the 40-man roster could be gone.

4 Dodgers most likely to be dealt at the 2023 trade deadline

Gavin Stone

The Dodgers elevated Gavin Stone, arguably their most promising pitching prospect at the time, to the MLB level earlier this year. Unfortunately for the right-hander, he struggled tremendously in his four games (three starts) and was sent back down to Triple-A with a 12.75 ERA and 3.00 WHIP. Yuck.

Unfortunately, it hasn't gotten better for the 24-year-old, either. He has a 5.79 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 16 Triple-A starts. His 85 strikeouts in 74.2 innings aren't bad, but that's considered "down" for what he's done the last couple years.

Now, we're not saying the Dodgers are going to sell low on him. They'd never do that. But they might consider finding the right suitor that would see the proper value in Stone, who is still LA's No. 4 prospect. If the Dodgers were able to sell high on Josiah Gray, who pitched in just six games in 2021 before being traded to the Nationals, why couldn't they do the same with Stone, who's arguably had a more impressive run in the minor leagues?

At this point, it feels like the Dodgers value Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan more than Stone, and they still have Ryan Pepiot, Nick Frasso, River Ryan and others waiting in the wings. If the Dodgers have to pay up in any trade involving a valuable everyday major leaguer, Stone could very well be on the move.

Michael Busch

Can someone save this man from Triple-A Oklahoma City?! Because the Dodgers apparently don't want to!

Busch got his cup of coffee in the form of 15 MLB games, but wasn't given a long leash. Back to the minor leagues he went, and he's since been carrying a bat on fire. He's hitting .318 with a 1.029 OPS, 61 runs scored, 18 homers and 66 RBI in just 70 games. This has been a calculated effort to maintain his trade value ... because why surrender anything for Rojas and Rosario when you can take a chance on Busch?

Established major league talent is always more valuable, no matter how badly they're slumping, but the Dodgers not giving Busch another chance in 2023 (and burying him with Miguel Vargas at Triple-A) speaks volumes. There's little chance a potential suitor judges Busch based on his 15 games with LA that featured a .200 average and .561 OPS.

Though his defensive versatility may no longer be as valued as it once was, Busch's lefty bat and ability to play second base at a high level will undoubtedly attract somebody out there. The Dodgers are playing their hand in a calculated manner and should get something of note out of it because of how well Busch has performed after his demotion.

Miguel Rojas

This offseason, the Dodgers made a mistake. Yes, it's safe to call it a mistake now. They traded No. 15 prospect Jacob Amaya (a shortstop) for Miguel Rojas, who they extended through 2024 upon his arrival.

Rojas may be a tremendous defender (he has a 1.2 dWAR and is in the 77th percentile for Outs Above Average), but he's legitimately a black hole on offense. He's worth negative value on that side of the ball and is statistically one of the worst hitters in all of baseball (46 OPS+ in 266 plate appearances).

When the Dodgers acquired Hernandez and Rosario, it might've signaled the end for Rojas. And in this case, the Dodgers won't be looking for value in return -- they probably just want to free up whatever's left on his $4.25 million salary for this year and the $5.75 million owed to him next year. A team in need of a veteran backup might value Rojas' presence, but right now it doesn't seem like he has much of a role on a playoff contender. Is it worth it to have him on the postseason roster?

Again, a rebuilding team might value his clubhouse presence and relatively cheap price tag, not to mention his defensive insurance. At this point, though, the Dodgers can't afford his bat in the lineup because the offense needs to keep humming to properly back the pitching staff. If all of Hernandez, Chris Taylor and Rosario can play shortstop and provide better bats, then why keep Rojas around?