Dodgers insider speculates LA will land star shortstop before trade deadline

Miguel Rojas became the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day starter at shortstop following the departure of Trea Turner and season-ending injury to Gavin Lux. That's not necessarily the type of talent the second-most valuable franchise in the sport should be featuring at the most important position on the field.

Some fans were hoping something would materialize before the start of the season, but that was always unrealistic. The Dodgers didn't expect to lose their starter and have to scramble a week into Spring Training, nor did they necessarily want to.

Secondly, what team out there was willing to trade a productive shortstop with the new campaign fast approaching? Such deals are saved for the GM and/or Winter Meetings so there's enough time to figure out how to make the proper adjustments.

That's why it was always more realistic that the Dodgers would have to wait until this year's trade deadline in order to make something happen. And that's exactly how insider Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic (subscription required) thinks it'll go down.

"The Dodgers’ starting shortstop in the postseason isn’t currently on their active roster. This isn’t to detract from Miguel Rojas, whose acquisition is all the more important with Gavin Lux out for the year — but the Dodgers will continue to look for upgrades. Whether it’s someone obvious right now such as Milwaukee’s Willy Adames or Cleveland’s Amed Rosario, the Dodgers will pursue their options and have the firepower to move for them."

- Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic

Dodgers-Willy Adames trade getting more plausible by the day. But not yet.

Willy Adames?! The guy who every Dodgers fan wanted after it was clear Turner would be leaving? That's the dream scenario (and maybe toss in Corbin Burnes, too, Milwaukee). It might be a tough sell, though. Adames isn't a free agent until after 2024 (same with Burnes), so the cost of such a deal would be considerable, especially if Adames continues slugging the way he's been.

That's what makes Amed Rosario another appealing option. He's in a contract year with the Cleveland Guardians, who famously pay nobody who's on the verge of hitting free agency, and have options to replace Rosario in the event he's traded. That might be a more appealing cost to the Dodgers, who could then explore signing the 27-year-old to a manageable extension as they prepare for the future.

At this moment, Ardaya likely narrowed it down to these two options because of their obvious situations that call for an eventual departure. There aren't many others out there, but Tim Anderson could be moved later on, depending on how the White Sox season shakes out. Additionally, you never know what the Yankees might do with top prospect Oswald Peraza now that Anthony Volpe is the Opening Day starter.

Life moves fast in MLB, so the Dodgers may have plentiful options come June if they seek to make a move of this magnitude.