Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman may not prefer to deal at the annual non-waiver trade deadline, but he’s hardly remained inactive throughout the course of his career. Last season he added Jesse Chavez, Josh Fields, Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
This year, the club appears focused on acquiring a left-handed reliever. Los Angeles has most prominently been connected to Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton, Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson and San Diego Padres lefty Brad Hand.
Trading for any of the relievers presumably would come at a high cost considering none are rentals. Britton and Wilson are under team control through the 2018 season, while Hand won’t reach free agency until after the 2019 season.
According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Dodgers are not inclined to trade Yadier Alvarez, Walker Buehler or Alex Verdugo:
The Dodgers have told potential trade partners they’re extremely hesitant to part with minor league outfielder Alex Verdugo and pitchers Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez. It might be a reach to classify those three prospects as “untouchable,” but they’re the closest thing the Dodgers have to the hallowed ground occupied by Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Julio Urias in recent years.
It was previously reported the Dodgers were willing to trade prospects who have high ceilings but are not quite on the doorstep of reaching the Majors. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi recently referred to Verdugo as MLB-ready or ‘close to it.’
Alvarez and Buehler are the organization’s top pitching prospects. The latter was recently promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City and is widely expected to contribute for the Dodgers out of the bullpen once active rosters expand in September.
Alvarez, a Cuba native, agreed to a $16 million singing bonus in July 2015. He’s been dogged by questions over his command.
