Who's the better trade deadline candidate for Dodgers: Andy Pages or James Tibbs III?

It feels like a foregone conclusion that the Los Angeles Dodgers will trade one (or more) outfielders at the trade deadline. The question is, who who exactly will be on the move? If the Dodgers truly want to go big-game hunting, there are two players who make sense to go: Andy Pages and James Tibbs III.

Both players got off to ridiculously hot starts at their respective levels, significantly raising their profiles. At the same time, the quartet of top prospects Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Eduardo Quintero, and Mike Sirota coming up behind them is putting pressure on their standing within the organization.

With that said, a closer look shows that the choice isn't that difficult for multiple reasons. Pages must stay, and Tibbs III must be the trade bait.

James Tibbs III is a better trade candidate than Andy Pages for the Dodgers

Just a few months ago, this might have seemed crazy. Pages' poor showing in the postseason had fans ready to give up on him, but his current surge has made the narrative do a complete 180.

Dave Roberts has heaped praise on the 25-year-old multiple times this year, and most recently complimented his maturity, telling SportsNet LA, "Andy has really matured in the last two years. I think he’s figuring out who he is as a major league ballplayer, figuring out what it takes to be a consistent major league player on both sides of the ball."

After Pages went on to hit three homers during the May 6 matchup with the Houston Astros, Mark DeRosa went on MLB Network and called him the Dodgers' best offensive player, along with Max Muncy.

If last year was his "breakout," then this year seems to be him taking it to the next level. And even if he regresses as the season goes on, he's proven he can be a league-average or better bat with speed on the bases and the ability to play a good center field.

As for Tibbs III, we can't say any of that with certainty. While he's gotten off to an incredibly hot start, the former San Francisco Giants first-round pick hadn't really turned it on until he arrived in LA last trade deadline. That move marked his third organization since his selection in 2024.

Tibbs III can't play center field, and the Dodgers don't really have another option that they can consistently run out there, for now, at least. In fact, defensively he projects as a marginal corner outfielder at best, and perhaps ultimately needs to move to first base long-term. That makes it hard to see how he can fit on Los Angeles's major league roster without other subsequent moves opening space.

The last point goes back to certainty. We know what Pages' floor is in the majors, and even if that's not a superstar, he's a useful player. We have no idea what Tibbs III's floor truly is. For a club with World Series aspirations year in and year out, that matters.

The Dodgers know what Pages can do, while Tibbs III is essentially choosing the mystery prize. He could be even better, though his role would be different, but we can't know that until we see him over a large enough sample in the majors. For that reason, he's the trade bait, and Pages needs to stay and be a piece that the club builds around.

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