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Dodgers Targeting ‘Elite’ Starting Pitching… Including Atlanta Braves’ Teheran

By Alan Carpenter

May 17, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Trayce Thompson (21), center fielder Joc Pederson (31), and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Trayce Thompson (21), center fielder Joc Pederson (31), and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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A Moment About Credibility

I know a number of you out there don’t give any credence to any of the trade ideas Jim Bowden spouts forth on a near-daily basis.  There’s reason to be skeptical.  But stop just a second here and look at what’s being said:

  • This is not proposing a trade (yet)
  • This is about relaying information from a specific conversation
  • This report names very specific targets
  • The logic about these choices is completely sound, given the circumstances

Sonny Gray is not yet arbitration eligible, but could be a free agent after 3-1/2 more seasons (after 2019).  Teheran would be under team control for up to 1 more season.  Cost isn’t really a factor – both would be easily affordable in the Dodger’s world view.  Both pitchers exactly fit the mold of age (Gray roughly 15 months older) as well.

Right now, Teheran would look to be the better performer because there are on-going concerns about Gray.  In fact, murmurs from some radio pundits (XM MLB Radio) have emerged suggesting that if Oakland can get Gray a couple of decent starts, they should consider getting what they can for him and do a trade… just in case he’s actually hurt or never recovers.

Regardless of whether you believe that advice, Gray could be a bit cheaper in a trade deal as a result.

The Untouchables

More from Tomahawk Take

Bowden also reported that there are three names that will not be considered for trade:  those are Kershaw, Seager, and Urias.

Bowden then couldn’t help himself:  yes, he ventured into the realm of speculation:

"“So to make a deal like this, they’d have to center it around Jose De Leon, Frankie Montas, and I think they would move Yasiel Puig at this point.”"

Okay.  Let me set that aside:  De Leon and Montas are both minor league pitchers (though advanced) and the Braves frankly don’t have any room for either.  Oakland might, so that could be the basis for a trade for Gray.

What wasn’t said there involved the rest of the Dodgers major league club.  The Braves have made it clear that their interests would lie in a young bat.  But could those three names truly be the only untouchables?

That just got slightly more interesting.

But which one of the ‘touchables’?

  • Yasiel Puig was mentioned by Bowden.  He’s under contract through 2019, but he’s available because his production has declined every year since he joined the league:  His OPS+ values started at159 (2013), then move down to 145, 110, and now just 76.  The Dodgers should give him away at this point.
  • Joc Pederson.  This would be a very intriguing choice:  somebody who seems to be getting better with age and hasn’t truly ‘broken out’ yet.  Still, getting Pederson from LA would be a tall order since they would have no obvious replacement for him (Enrique Hernandez is next on the depth chart) and because they are also looking to add a bat – not subtract one.
  • Trayce Thompson.  The Braves got a first-hand look at what he could do when they were in LA recently.  Does not have the hype of Pederson, but also seems to be better than what his scouting numbers suggest.

The Dodger farm system has a couple of outfielders at the AA level – Cody Bellinger and Alex Verdugo.  Neither appears to be a standout candidate, plus neither would fit John Coppolella’s ultimatum.

Also, there is no third baseman of interest other than Justin Turner, and he isn’t likely to be going anywhere (plus, he’s already 31).

Catchers?  Austin Barnes might be a logical choice – he’s blocked from the majors.

Since this is still at the “kicking tires” stage, I’ll stop and hold off on anything more myself.  It’s interesting, but unless Pederson were somehow made available, it’s truly hard to see a fit for Atlanta’s needs.  Right now, a deal with Oakland for Gray in exchange for a couple of their top pitchers would seem to make more sense – if Gray is indeed okay.

Roughly a Month to Mull Things Over

The Dodgers are hanging around in the NL West and are currently sitting in the #1 Wild Card position, 5.5 games behind the division-leading Giants, who are playing very well indeed.  Arizona is finally showing some signs of getting on track, and the Rockies are “hovering”… good enough to be annoying, perhaps.

LA will need to address their issues to be able to make a run.  They are also the type of team not really willing to sit back and just wait to see how things play out.  They will be pro-active.

That will be especially true if any of their infirmary cases have any setbacks at all.  For example, we should hear something soon about Alex Wood‘s elbow, as he’s scheduled to start throwing a bit again.

Next: Top Marks for the Draft?

The obvious question overall is just how far will LA will choose to go to get what they want and whether Atlanta or Oakland will blink first at their trade offer.

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