These Dodgers position players could wind up in aggressive Garrett Crochet trade package

Alright, folks. We're running the Garrett-Crochet-to-the-Dodgers rumors back.

Crochet was the "it" guy of this year's trade deadline, with multiple buying, postseason-bound teams checking in on him. The Dodgers were reportedly even communicating with the White Sox down to the last hour before the deadline, but when Crochet came off the table at the last minute, they changed tacks and made a deal with a different AL Central team for Jack Flaherty.

It was clear from the outset that anyone who got Crochet would have to send a haul back to Chicago in return. By the deadline, he had a 3.23 ERA over 114 1/3 innings in his first year as a full-time starter. He pitched 31 2/3 more innings before season's end, and although he posted a 4.83 ERA over those 10 starts, a promising lefty starter like Crochet was still going to command a nice return if the White Sox decided to make him available again during the offseason.

The Dodgers seemed indifferent to a few potential red flags attached to Crochet: his innings limit (he didn't pitch more than four innings after the deadline), and the fact that he reportedly refused to pitch in the postseason without an extension from the buying team.

The latter shouldn't be an issue next season, and although the former might, the Dodgers are reportedly back on the Crochet train and are being aggressive in their pursuit. Although nothing swayed the White Sox enough at the deadline to send him away, what kind of deal would finally get him to LA? This time around, Chicago is reportedly zeroing in on improving their stock of position player prospects.

Dodgers are in on Garrett Crochet (again) and will still need to offer up huge prospect capital to get him

During trade deadline season, word on the street was that the White Sox would likely require at least one top-five prospect and then some to be swayed. Dalton Rushing, the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect, could be available if they keep blocking his path to the majors (basically, if they actually get Juan Soto for right field). The Dodgers reportedly didn't offer him during trade deadline talks, which could've contributed to the White Sox hanging onto their guy.

Rushing couldn't be the only one, of course. Would the Dodgers dare to give up not just their No. 1 but also their No. 2 prospect? With the way they've been chasing Crochet, it wouldn't be totally out of the cards. Josue De Paula is still a few years away from the majors, but he impressed over stints in both Single- and High-A this year and basically flipped his walk (21.7%) and K (16.5%) rates with his promotion this year.

The White Sox probably wouldn't say no to another major-league-ready player (Miguel Vargas was shipped there in exchange for Michael Kopech), and Gavin Lux's future in LA looks very dicey with Mookie Betts' move back to the infield.

Looking just a little further down the pipeline, No. 11 prospect Zyhir Hope, who came over in the trade that sent Michael Busch to the Cubs, has been absolutely dominating Arizona Fall League play and was selected as the NL's starting right fielder for the Fall Stars Game on Nov. 9.

It's a little hard to tell if the Dodgers would actually go so far for a pitcher who might still be innings-limited next season, but it might be the only deal rich enough for Chicago's blood to sway them to move Crochet. Perhaps one of Rushing or De Paula, plus the other two, will get it done.