One Blockbuster Trade the Dodgers Should Make to Solidify the Infield for Good
In the above video, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain discusses one trade the Dodgers should consider to help shore up the infield once and for all.
McKain brings up the idea of the Dodgers trading for a shortstop to allow Betts to slide back over to second base, and limit the wear and tear on his body.
Betts has been working harder than anyone to ensure he plays a good shortstop for the Dodgers, and McKain is worried that’s potentially cutting into his offensive numbers at the plate.
Betts was mired in a slump before he finally broke out of it this week, but had gone almost a month without a home run.
The Dodgers moved Betts to second base from right field to protect his body and allow him to focus more on his offense. A full-time move to shortstop pretty much negated that protection this season.
So, if the Dodgers wanted to allow Betts to go back to second base, McKain thinks they could make a splash trade for a two-time All-Star shortstop in Toronto Blue Jays Bo Bichette.
As McKain says in the video, Bichette is struggling mightily this season, slashing .218/.275/.306 with two home runs and 13 RBIs. He hasn’t had an OPS below .800 in his career, and this year, he sits at .581 entering Wednesday.
A trade for Bichette — a two-time All-Star and three-time top 20 American League MVP finisher — would shore up the shortstop position for the Dodgers in a big way. Bichette has only played shortstop in his big league career, and has been an average defender this season. While Betts has been putting in the work to play a good shortstop, he’s been a below-average shortstop according to the metrics with -2 Outs Above Average.
Allowing Betts to shift back to second base — the position he’s been working on playing for the last few seasons — and focus more on his bat could help the Dodgers in the long run, and could put Betts in a position to not burn out later in the season. Bichette also has another year of team control before entering free agency in 2026.
“The best thing for this Dodgers team is to go out there and get an everyday shortstop that you can trust in this role, and put Mookie Betts back at second base,” McKain says.
The biggest question if the Dodgers were to acquire a shortstop would be what they do with Gavin Lux. After struggling to start the season, Lux is finally picking things up in his first season since 2022 as he returns from a torn ACL.
As McKain points out, the Dodgers would almost have to include Lux in this trade, as there would be no room for him with Bichette at shortstop and Betts going back to second base.
While Lux is starting to show signs of life after a slow start to the year, Bichette has proven to be a much better player, and the Dodgers would be banking on the 26-year-old getting back to form after an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.
The Blue Jays struggle to develop pitching on their own, so a prospect package that includes at least one bonafide future major league pitcher with other prospects could get the job done. The Dodgers don’t have a great shortstop plan in their minor leagues, so Bichette could be the new shortstop of the future in Los Angeles.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Nice article but thinking bigger – Walker may not return to form or re-sign, CT3 is under performing, Heyward injured, Barnes/Rojas limited on offense. Teoscar may leave after 1 yr
Big pool of talent for inclusion on trade talks. Also open up spots for development on younger or more productive catchers
Make a huge splash and go for Adames/Yelich and do a large player trade if the Brewers flame out. Lock up another solid OF while improving the IF 🙂
Teoscar has repeatedly stated how thrilled he is to be a Dodger & that he wants to spend the rest of his career in LA
Yeah, but with the $1.1 billion added this off-season, the Dodgers will look for ‘team-control’ players. Pages and a resurgent Vargas, along with Outman once he builds confidence, will provide the Dodgers with minimum-salary guys for years covering the outfield. Thant’s also why you’re going to see Miller, Stone, May, and eventually Sheehan as part of a rotation that includes Glasnow, Yamamoto and Ohtani; lots of cheap team-controlled pitchers to offset the big, expensive contracts. Think long-term….
You expect a rebuilding team to take on any of CT3, Hayward, Barnes, Miggy Ro??? As for Teo, assuming he continues to mash, he’s not going anywhere.
Bo Bichette is NOT the answer. Give CT3 a shot at SS. Platoon he and Rojas.
How the hell can they justify trading for a guy hitting . 220?
Watched his dad play in Anaheim… Bo dont know…
Look at the career numbers.
He’ll lead the league in hits by the end of year…making it three of the last four.
You guys would be lucky to get him and a couple of prospects won’t do it
Take a look at his numbers again.
And you’re getting our one day batting title winner for a couple of prospects.
We have brains in Canada, not guns.
You also have a last place team
And with the Castro-Trudeau marxist regime, you NEED guns!
And you also have the Castro-Trudeau marxist regime; you NEED guns!
How true…so true.
I agree with this 100%. I know CT3 is struggling a bit this season but as anyone knows, in the majors you need reps! Without reps he will remain inconsistent. Give him a chance to get to where we know he can and get Mookie back to second!
Bichette could be the answer but what do you do with Lux? I’ve always been a CT3 fan but he can’t hit and he’s to old to start everyday at shortstop. Willie Adames could also be the answer but he’ll cost to much. As deep as the Dodgers pockets seem to be, they can’t give everyone $30 million. And I don’t expect the Brewers to flame out. Keep the lineup as it is for now.
Bo’s cooked. He’s been trending down slowly in 22 & 23*, and this year’s gone completely flat. He’s chasing! Outman much!? Lol …. U want 2 of those guys in there? I agree Betts is getting taxed at SS somewhat at least, but don’t u think Betts n Doc would know this? Lol. Keep Betts at SS this year. Let Rojas in as much as possible. Double switch end of games. Get Arenado at 3rd. The Max back to 2nd. Outman n Lux n Ryan for Jazz. Pages Arenado & Jazz for our 7-8-9 !!!????!!!! R u fing kidding me!? That’s 15 teams 123. Lmao there’d be ZERO rest for MLB teams! We wouldn’t have these dry fart hitting games like today and entire SD series. As well as last game in Miami. We scored avg 1.7 runs in those games.
* – Bo did have improved ” stats” in 23… Yes, cuz he had like 610 PA! his metrics were actually down a hair from 22 which was down From 21. 2020 Bo’s best. 2021 was great too, but a hair down. It’s worth a risk still, yeah, but he’s worse than lux now. Lol. We’re gonna look stupid when he’s going 1-14 in the playoffs, while Lux could hit a couple clutch hits. Jazz would offset any Betts power loss at SS. Jazz hitting fn 9th !?
Jazz’s ego and mouth will never fit into the LAD clubhouse
Like this Sammy! ….Jazz Chizz is a great get but the Cards will want the farm for Nolan
The best thing the Dodgers can do for their D is get rid of CT3 and send Outman down. Pages can man center and Vargas can be recalled to handle the RH OF position as well as backing up 2nd and 3rd base. Heyward will be back and as amazing as it sounds, he’s better than CT3. Bichette, Adames or a youngster from the Orioles. Get it done!!!!
Mookie needs to be playing second base. Muncy will be much better at third than at second. Hate to lose Lux but this is the game. You have to give to get. Bichette is a good option, barring that Rojas could be playing short and, then, Lux is out of a spot again. Someone suggested a Taylor/Rojas platoon but that would be two right- handed bats.
Perhaps the spring training decision was early. Get Lux more SS practice reps and a platoon with Rojas could work. Lux is an athlete and can do it.
Miggy Ro should be our SS, his offense is up & his D is stellar. Betts back to 2nd, less wear & tear should help him remain elite. Lux understandably will take another year to fully recover from a very traumatic injury, but he’s young. Send him down to AAA to build up his leg, arm, bat & confidence, there’s no shame in that. We’ll need him back soon enough.
Why not just put Rojas at short? His hitting is up this year and I bet it would improve with more at bats. Rojas at short and Betts at 2nd could be an all-star infield.
CT3 has to go, he’s done. Maybe he could resurrect his hitting in a future year, but he could actually have a better chance at that with another team. Outman is such a disappointment. Send him back to the minors now, maybe he can get his swing back without all the pressure. We have to make some trades at the mid-season deadline. The poor-performing bottom of the lineup will kill any chances of winning in the playoffs.
The most concerning thing I’m seeing with the team right now is the continued downward spiral of the supposed savior Pages, including his strikeout on bad pitches; “his average is (as the French like to say) dropping like a piece of s**t; and ditto for Outman. Something needs to be done about the bottom of the lineup. Hopefully Hayward will stabilize things there and Lux is showing some brief sign of batting life. And, please, Muncy quit swinging for the fences and either popping up or grounding out with RISP. And have we forgotten about Rojas playing ss when rest is needed at that position? I really don’t think a trade for a shortstop is the answer to any of this.
I think you could move Betts to second and Rojas is I top notch defender and his batts slowly improving so keep him at SS send down a few of the outfield so they can come back ready ,it seems to help,Ct3 and Barnes probably need to go even tho I’ve been loyal to them for years now it’s over due, I know our boys in Blue will all come around and teams watch how it’s done,,,,,,
Reading these posts one would think no one realizes the Dodgers are 29-16 with the highest run differential in MLB. Calm down everyone.
Just imagine how much better dodgers could be if the last 4 spots in the lineup could actually hit.
Well said MOJO, you can’t have a lineup of .300 40/120 guys. LAD lineup construction is the best any team has been in 40 years. Cover your mouth and noses .. I wanna here the whistle in your heads Dodger fans! Geez!
I agree with the other Jeff. Miguel Rojas is a great SS, and he is hitting .265 or so — 50pts higher than Lux. and Miggy puts the ball in play. if Lux starts hitting well, then we can leave the infield as is, except play Miggy at SS when Lux sits, and move Betts back to 2B.
lt breaks my Heart to say this– But, CT 3 is no longer a Viable force or Option for the Dodgers. This is not a Social Work Agency. We can not coddle Players or maintain LOYALTY to them for their PAST Contributions. Almost two months of the Season has elapsed, and his Hitting is PATHETIC and UNSALVAGEABLE. He is not having a Bad SLUMP from which he is likely to RECOVER. Chris is a Veteran who has BROKEN Down, and needs to leave with Dignity. We need the Back end of the Line-up to be more Effective and Taylor’s Presence Sabotages that possibility. I feel badly, but James Outman is also a Player who is dragging the Team DOWN. He needs to spend more time in Triple A. It is sad to see, but his Batting is DISMAL, and the Team can not afford to have such POOR Hitters in the Line-up. It is also time to reconsider the role of Austin Barnes. He has made significant Contributions in the past. However, at this Point, he rarely makes any OFFENSIVE Contributions , and I attribute some of their losses to the Dodgers having these three DEAD Weights in their Line-up. Baseball is a TOUGH Game. But, if the Dodgers are ever going to reach their POTENTIAL, they can NOT in EFFECT have a 6 or 7 Man Line-up
I agree with this 100%. I know CT3 is struggling a bit this season but as anyone knows, in the majors you need reps! Without reps he will remain inconsistent. Give him a chance to get to where we know he can and get Mookie back to second!