Dodgers Trade Rumors: Breaking Down LA's Best Deadline Options

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have grabbed headlines prior to the trade deadline for getting Hanley Ramirez from Miami, but that hardly means the new, aggressive ownership in Hollywood is done dealing. 

In fact, it sounds like the Dodgers are ready to make another big splash. This time, though, it appears their object of desire is a starting pitcher. 

According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Dodgers are still very much in the Ryan Dempster sweepstakes but have put a contingency plan in place just to be safe. 

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If #Dodgers can't complete deal for Dempster, they have Zack Greinke and Josh Johnson on their list, as well, sources say.

— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2012"

Given that those are the three top starters on the market before the trade deadline, the Dodgers are not messing around in their plan to go for the playoffs this year. Since we wouldn't know prospects being dealt, we are only going to look at the potential value of the pitcher for the Dodgers. 

So which one would provide them with the most bang for their potential buck?

Ryan Dempster

2012 Stats: 5-5, 2.25 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 83 K, 104 IP

At 35 years old, Dempster does not have a lot of great years ahead of him. Plus, he is in the final year of his contract, so unless the Dodgers have plans to extend him, they would be giving up years of control of a top prospect for two months of Dempster. 

Of the three pitchers Morosi mentions, I think that Dempster provides the least value. He is the oldest of the three—both Greinke and Johnson are 28—and he has had a lot of luck thus far, with a .242 BABIP and the lowest groundball rate of his career (42.1). 

If I am the Dodgers, Dempster intrigues me just because he is probably going to be the "cheapest" of the three pitchers to get, and if he is healthy, he's a good starter who will give his team quality innings. I just don't think they will be as good as they have been so far. 

Zack Greinke

2012 Stats: 9-3, 3.44 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 122 K, 123 IP

Greinke strikes me as the most likely pitcher on the list to be dealt, just because the Brewers clearly have no incentive to keep him since he isn't going to re-sign there, they have fallen so far out of the race and he doesn't have veto rights over any trade. 

He is the best starting pitcher on the market right now, though everyone will always have questions about how he will handle himself in a big market because of his social anxiety disorder.

The Dodgers wouldn't be a bad option for Greinke, just because of the ballpark and weak lineups in the National League West. He is going to cost a lot, and unless the Dodgers re-sign him, they have to decide if it is worth it to give up what they would have to for two months of a pitcher who isn't guaranteed to get them into the postseason. 

Josh Johnson

2012 Stats: 6-7, 4.14 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 105 K, 119.2 IP

Johnson provides the most future value for the Dodgers—assuming he stays healthy, of course—because he is signed through 2013. He started slow this season, but he did find himself prior to a couple of rough outings in July. 

Health is always the biggest question with Johnson. When he is on top of his game, Johnson is one of the 10 best pitchers in the game. 

The Marlins and Dodgers certainly know each other well. I think Johnson is the best option for the Dodgers, just because he is guaranteed to be there for at least one year beyond this season. 

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