The Los Angeles Dodgers are already a hated entity across large swaths of the sport.
Fans of virtually every other MLB ballclub can’t stand the back-to-back champs.
To rub some salt into the collective wounds a bit further, Dodgers Nation analyst Doug McKain recently put together a list of five moves the Dodgers could make this offseason that would ‘break baseball’ and those who follow the sport.
While some of these hypotheticals may be a bit farfetched, a few could most certainly happen — and as soon as this offseason, much to the chagrin of rival fans.
Move 1: The Dodgers Trade For Paul Skenes
This would be an absolutely devastating turn of events for practically every other franchise in the league. Adding Skenes to a group featuring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell would be something out of a video game.
Skenes is in a situation where the Pittsburgh Pirates, respectfully, won’t be a contender at any point during his prime. A Southern California native himself, it would make sense for Skenes to leave for a bigger market given the star power he brings — not to mention the possible business opportunities for his pop culture icon of a partner in Livvy Dunne.
There’s no telling what a package to get Skenes would require — though for certain it include current MLB talent in addition to a cluster of the Dodgers’ elite prospects.
Move 2: Acquire Tarik Skubal As A One-Year Rental
This would essentially be a very expensive rental — though it could be a move worth making if it meant getting the Dodgers a third-straight World Series title.
Skubal and the Detroit Tigers reportedly are worlds apart on a possible extension. While Skubal seemingly wants to stay in the Motor City, there’s a decent likelihood he’s flipped before hitting free agency a year from now in which he’s expected to cash in handsomely as possibly the most expensive starting pitcher ever.
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Skubal is another West Coast native having grown up in the Bay Area and also down in Arizona. A winner of two-straight Cy Young Awards himself, Skubal is hands down one of the top-three starting pitchers in the game today.
Given his impending free agency, there’s some real legitimacy to the Dodgers going out and putting together even more of a juggernaut starting staff with Skubal in the fold even if just for one season.
Move 3: Fernando Tatis Jr. Heading To LA
This hypothetical may break the brains of both fan bases given the hatred between the Dodgers and the San Diego Padres.
According to McKain, the theory here is that the Padres may be forced to sell off some of their highly-priced assets with a possible team sale looming.
There’s no denying the talent as well as the possible fit. In theory, Tatis Jr. could help to bridge the gap from the older guard to the newer generation given that he’s only 26 years of age. Having said that, there’s no love lost between Tatis Jr. and those who support the Boys in Blue. It’s also highly unlikely the Friars would do business with the ballclub they’re chasing in the NL West.
Move 4: Blockbuster Deal With The Minnesota Twins
Utilizing several prospects from the franchises’s deep farm system, McKain laid out a scenario where the Dodgers could acquire starting pitcher Joe Ryan and outfielder Byron Buxton.
Ryan is under club control for two more years at a very team-friendly rate. He’s won double-digit games in three of the last four years, and has done so with a career ERA of 3.79.
Buxton is the obvious headliner here. He’d be a major upgrade in centerfield, and that would enable Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernandez to man the corner spots (preferably with Pages in right and Hernandez in left).
All of Buxton’s underlying numbers are fantastic from his speed and defense to the slug and ability to hit the ball with some real venom. He’s also said to be a very strong leader within the clubhouse. Perhaps unlike the first three moves mentioned within this piece, there’s a very realistic world in which Buxton becomes a member of the Dodgers (assuming he waives his no-trade clause).
Move 5: Reuniting Mike Trout With Shohei Ohtani
It’s rather unthinkable that the combination of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani was unable to lead the Angels to the postseason even once.
Trout brings obvious gravitas as a future first ballot Hall of Famer. It would be fun to see him compete with a real contender for the first time in his career.
However, there’s not a clean fit between himself and the Dodgers. His injury history coupled with the money owed to him is a real problem. There’s also virtually zero chance the Halos would do business with the Dodgers. Trout also has a no-trade clause that would have to be lifted in order to entertain any deal.
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Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
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