Could the Dodgers best deadline moves be in-house? Lux, Syndergaard, Diaz & more
With the trade deadline just days away, the Dodgers find themselves in an intriguing situation.
Everybody this side of the Mississippi river knows they need to bolster their bullpen, but with so few sellers, and so few elite options, the cost of acquiring a Felipe Vasquez or a Ken Giles might be too steep, even for the prospect-rich Dodgers.
In such an unsaturated relief market, It’s been reported that the Pirates asking price for Vasquez would be at least two of the Dodgers top prospects (Keibert Ruiz, Gavin Lux, Dustin May, and Will Smith), and I’d imagine the Blue Jays would ask something similar for Giles, who’s having a career year, posting an ERA of 1.59 with 58 K’s and just 11 BB’s over 34 innings pitched.
The problem I have with surrendering two, or even one of these prospects for a reliever is simple:
Smith (just called up on Thursday), Lux and even May could all be competing and contributing for this Dodgers team right now.
I discussed the seemingly obvious Austin Barnes – Will Smith “dilemma” in my article last week, detailing how Will Smith could be a massive upgrade for the Dodgers, and their abysmal production from the catchers spot this season.
On Thursday, the team sent Austin Barnes down to AAA Oklahoma City, and called Smith back up, which could prove to be their most impactful move of the season.
Now onto Gavin Lux, who is the one guy that should absolutely be off limits. The 2016 first-round selection has been using a cheat code this year in the minor leagues.
In AA Tulsa, he slashed .313/.375/.521 with 45 runs, 13 HR’s, 37 RBI in just 64 games, but in AAA Oklahoma City, he’s taken it to another level. He’s hitting .482/.556/.965 with 41 hits, 31 runs, 8 HR’s and 26 RBI, in just 20 games.
You simply cannot trade Lux. He could be starting for the big league club at second base, and without a doubt will be starting there next season. He has power to both sides of the field, plays solid defense, and has plus speed.
This is his fourth year in the Dodgers system, and with injuries to Chris Taylor, and now Kike’ Hernandez, it’s an ideal opportunity for the young prospect to show the team he’s capable of performing now, and especially in October.
So if you’re keeping track, that’s two possible big time in-house upgrades to the team, all without surrendering one prospect.
That leaves us at the Dodgers top pitching prospect Dustin May, or as some are calling him, “Gingergaard”, a nickname alluding to a combination of the Noah Syndergaard comparisons he’s drawn, and of course, his luscious red locks.
He’s an imposing figure on the mound, and features a four pitch repertoire: a plus two-seam fastball comfortably sitting between 92-97, a hard curveball, a cutter, and most recently he added a changeup which is a work in progress, yet still effective.
In AA Tulsa in 79.1 innings of work, he sported a 3.74 ERA with 86 K’s and 20 BB’s, and a 9.8 K/9 ratio while only allowing a total of five home runs.
In AAA Oklahoma City, in just four starts, he’s put up a 2-0 record in 21.1 innings pitched with a 2.53 ERA, 18 K’s and 7 BB’s.
With Ross Stripling leaving his last start on Wednesday with a neck issue, and the Dodgers already thin on starters, could this be an opportune time to give May the call?
My point being, the Dodgers have several moves the team can make to improve their roster simply by promoting from within.
Relievers are hit and miss, even the best of them are no certainty, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t express my concern for trading a slew of the team’s top prospects just for relief help.
The Dodgers can definitely afford to trade either Ruiz OR Smith. I believe Ruiz is the most expendable to them at this moment in time only because Smith was just called up to replace to the abysmal Austin Barnes, a move that was long overdue.
Ruiz’s potential is very high, and MLB Pipeline has him ranked as the Dodgers top prospect, but with Smith here, and Diego Cartaya in the system as well, it seems like Ruiz is the odd man out.
Ruiz is a fantastic prospect, but this team has a very real chance to win a World Series, and to make a move for MLB talent, it’s going to cost something.
Jake Diekman of the Royals, Chris Martin of the Rangers and Mychel Givens of the Orioles are three names to keep an eye on, as Friedman has pried away the somewhat under-the-radar players without giving up top prospects from teams in years past.
Finally, we arrive at a blockbuster trade scenario, one that would rival the Machado trade last season, and the trade for a former Rangers and current Cubs pitcher who shall not be named in 2017.
Buster Olney has reported that the New York Mets “want to move” starter Noah Syndergaard, and its reached the point of “beyond listening” to offers. It’s been reported that the Dodgers have expressed interest in him, and certainly have the pieces to get it done. But that’s only half of my hypothetical.
That brings me to the once-elite Edwin Diaz. While he has been an often cause of heartbreak for Mets fans this season with his blown saves and 4.81 ERA, it’s undeniable the man has nasty stuff, and has proven he can close games down in years past (57 saves, 1.96 ERA last season).
The Mets traded their top prospect Jarred Kelenic to acquire Diaz in the offseason, and Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen sounds like he’s in full on salvage mode, something Andrew Friedman could pounce on.
Diaz has no question been anything but reliable this season, often times terrible, but could a change of scenery and pitching with Joe Kelly, Pedro Baez, and Kenley Jansen change that? It’s possible.
Diaz is arbitration eligible for the next three seasons and may be hard to pry away, but his value is at the lowest it ever will be.
Now the problem with pairing Syndergaard and Diaz together is the Dodgers would CERTAINLY have to give up two of the top four prospects and additional lower level prospects.
If Friedman can pull off trading May and Ruiz/Smith, plus possibly some combination of Tony Gonsolin, Dennis Santana type guys, this could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the Dodgers, and something I would get on board with.
It’s going to be a wild trade deadline, so buckle up, and join me in a prayer that Gavin Lux remains in blue beyond July 31st.
-David Rosenthal (@_therealdrose)
