Trades the Los Angeles Dodgers Should Already Be Thinking About
We are just over a month into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season, and the results have been mixed. On the positive side, they are 18-10 and comfortably in first place in the National League West; they also have two of the top five hitters in baseball. On the other hand, though, they remain hampered by some serious injury questions.
The new front office demonstrated both a desire and an ability to be aggressive this winter, so expecting the same this summer seems reasonable. There are a few obvious holes on the current roster, and fortunately for the Dodgers there appear to be potential solutions as well.
Potential Problem Areas
1 of 4
With Brandon McCarthy out for the rest of the season and Hyun-jin Ryu suffering a recent setback, the rotation lacks both depth and front-line talent. A staff headlined by Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke will always be dangerous, but the back half looks to be problematic come playoff time.
Both Yasiel Puig and Carl Crawford are on the disabled list with muscular injuries, but both are expected back in the next month at the latest. Additionally, Scott Van Slyke and Chris Heisey provide competent outfield depth.
Jimmy Rollins has struggled mightily at the plate (58 wRC+), but much of that is driven by a low BABIP. If it turns out he has lost his ability to hit major league pitching, Corey Seager is waiting in Triple-A.
Because the outfield and shortstop problems can solve themselves internally, the most problematic issue rests with the pitching staff.
Cole Hamels, LHP
2 of 4
The Phillies ace is on the trading block, and the Dodgers should be interested. McCarthy is out for the year, and while Ryu is expected back, his health is uncertain. Continuous shoulder problems are a recipe for disaster, so even if Ryu returns to the mound during the summer, continued health through October is no guarantee.
Hamels is under team control for three more years and will therefore cost a figurative ton, so not seeing the Dodgers actually pull the trigger would not be a disaster—especially if it requires giving up Seager, Joc Pederson and LHP Julio Urias.
Johnny Cueto, RHP
3 of 4
Cueto is a free agent after this season, so he will be significantly cheaper than Hamels. Like Hamels, though, he is an excellent pitcher—154 ERA+ over the past five years—and his team is likely not good enough to be in contention through the July trade deadline.
If the Dodgers trade for Cueto, he would provide an option if Ryu is hurt come playoff time or if none of the back-half pitching options such as Carlos Frias or Brett Anderson develop into viable playoff candidates.
.png?w=256)
Andre Ethier, OF
4 of 4
Ethier has a 155 wRC+ in 25 games, which is an excellent start after a rough 2014. And with Crawford and Puig on the disabled list, Ethier has been a competent fill-in for manager Don Mattingly. He provides a certain level of versatility and platoon capabilities because most of the Dodger backup outfielders are right-handed (Heisey, Van Slyke, Alex Guerrero).
However, Ethier is unlikely to keep up this level of production. He has a home run-per-fly ball ratio that he has not approached since 2012, and his 2015 ISO (AVG-SLG) would be the highest of his career. Essentially, unless one believes that Ethier is all of a sudden the most powerful he has ever been, this is a mirage.
With that in mind, the Dodgers should try to trade him if anyone believes that this is a new version of the outfielder. Once Puig and Crawford return, Ethier will be marginalized and the Dodgers will still have a logjam in the outfield. Seizing any opportunity to trade him would be the organization’s best decision.
*Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
