As Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman mulls over possibilities in attempt to upgrade his club for the 2019 season, it is looking like he has a variety of different options.
The potential trade that seems to be gaining the most traction is with the Cincinnati Reds, although recent reports indicate that nothing is close as the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas wind to a close.
Among the players that the two teams reportedly are discussing are Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Alex Wood, as the Dodgers look to unload salary to address other needs of the team. Homer Bailey, who has $28 million remaining on his contract, and prospects are potentially what would be going back to Los Angeles.
It appears the latest version of the trade not include Puig but would still save the Dodgers a significant amount of money towards the luxury tax, with Kemp and Wood headed to the Reds, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post:
2/Save about $13M toward tax payroll, gain some financial flexibility for other areas. Cincy would have Wood/Roark as veteran rotation adds if deal can get to finish line.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) December 13, 2018
Trading Kemp is said to be one of the Dodgers’ biggest priorities this offseason, and it looks like it may be easier to do compared to last winter after a productive 2018 season.
If the Dodgers do make this deal and save the $13 million that Sherman referred to, that money could be used to take on the salary of Corey Kluber in a trade with the Cleveland Indians, or to sign a marquee free agent such as Bryce Harper.
What the Dodgers would do with Bailey and his contract is the biggest question though. He has been one of the worst pitchers in all of baseball in recent years but could benefit from a move to the bullpen, which the Dodgers have done with other failed starters in the past.
