Dodgers News: Mike Trout trade, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, stadium security lawsuit

Happy Thanksgiving weekend, Los Angeles Dodgers fans! Right before you hit the road, though, we've got a little news roundup that might help you get through dinner with your in-laws and/or famously drunk uncle.

The hot stove is trending toward a bursting flame with all the MLB buzz circulating this week. As expected, the Dodgers are among the teams front and center. Let's get some of the excitement out of the way, though. First thing's first.

In ranking the realistic blockbuster moves of the upcoming offseason, we can't say the Dodgers trading for Angels star Mike Trout is high on the list. But that previous dream scenario was floated by insider Hector Gomez, who claims a source told him the Dodgers will also be aggressive in trying to land Trout in a trade and are willing to "give up their best prospects."

OK ... wait a second. Now you're starting to convince us. Yes, now that the top end of the Dodgers' farm system diminished in value over the last calendar year, yes, it makes all the sense in the world they'd try and coax the Angels to take their "best guys" in exchange for a top-five player (when healthy). Or, even better, the Dodgers are convincing the Angels to take their best guys only if they're willing to eat some of Trout's massive contract.

The outfielder is signed through 2030 (his age-38 season) at $35.45 million per year. He's entering his age-33 campaign in 2024 and hasn't appeared in more than 140 games since the 2016 season.

Dodgers News: Mike Trout trade, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, stadium security lawsuit

But who's going to be upset if the Dodgers package a combination of Michael Busch, Miguel Vargas, Ryan Pepiot, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, Diego Cartya and Nick Frasso together to land the face of baseball before Shohei Ohtani? Even if he only averages 115 games per season the rest of his career?

Now, onto a much more realistic and exciting mega move. The Dodgers reportedly "love" Yoshinobu Yamamoto and are thinking maybe they can pair the right-hander with Ohtani. That would be $700 million committed to two players if it happens.

Yamamoto is reportedly commanding a contract in the $200 million range. After Aaron Nola just secured $172 million from the Phillies, the 25-year-old Yamamoto's price likely went up. He's entering his age-25 season and is coming off a season in which he pitched to a 1.16 ERA and 0.86 WHIP across 171 innings.

Any contract Yamamoto can realistically receive will undoubtedly feature mostly his prime years, which is likely why his market is continuing to expand. Very rarely do MLB teams have a chance to sign superstar free agents this early in their careers. Go get 'em, Mr. Friedman! Biggest bang for your buck.

But we have to apologize, because this one's quite the rollercoaster. Such is the news cycle! The Dodgers were unfortunately featured in headlines for the wrong reasons, too, this week, after it was ruled in court a Riverside County man would be awarded $105,000 in damages for being wrongfully beaten by a Dodger Stadium security guard.

The incident goes all the way back to 2018, when the man, Francisco Rodriguez, was "forcibly ejected" from a Dodgers game for "objecting to the way another fan was being dealt with." He was "battered" by the stadium's security, which ended with him on the ground and a knee on his back.

Three suits were filed against the Dodgers in April of 2022 alone, detailing varying accusations, so the team's name won't be out of the court system for quite some time.

So, in order of least exciting to most exciting, we'll go: Dodger Stadium lawsuit, Mike Trout trade, Yoshinobu Yamamoto signing. Got it.

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