Last offseason Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations acknowledged the club would benefit from trading an outfielder given their surplus.
While Matt Kemp was sent to the San Diego Padres, he in essence was replaced by Joc Pederson, and the Dodgers began the 2015 season with five outfielders — six if including Alex Guerrero.
Speaking during Major League Baseball’s annual Winter Meetings this year, Friedman said the Dodgers have fielded calls from teams inquiring on their group of outfielders.
However, Friedman didn’t reiterate his stance that an outfielder needed to be traded, citing the depth being beneficial last season due to multiple injuries.
As the cost to sign a free-agent outfielder soars this offseason, the trade market may be a better, if not necessary option for some clubs. If the Dodgers are to move Carl Crawford or Andre Ethier, they would include cash considerations as part of a trade, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Ethier, who will play next season at 34, still is owed $38 million over two years, but the Dodgers are willing to reduce that obligation — as well as Carl Crawford’s remaining $41.75 million over two years — by including cash in any trade.
Ethier is coming off a career season in which he hit .294/.366/.486 with 14 home runs, 20 doubles, 53 RBIs, a .366 wOBA and 137 wRC+. However, his resurgent year came primarily against right-handed pitching.
Of Ethier’s 445 plate appearances, only 48 were against lefties. Moreover, he started just one game in which a left-handed pitcher was on the mound. Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi said in November that Ethier factors into the club’s plans moving forward.
Crawford tore an oblique muscle in late April that forced him to the disabled list. He returned July 21 after having missed 75 games. Crawford appeared in 69 games last season, batting .265/.304/.403.
