Over the past few weeks the Los Angeles Dodgers primarily have been connected to left-handed relief pitchers as the July 31 trade deadline rapidly approaches. Late last week, reported trade interest grew to include Texas Rangers starter Yu Darvish.
The Rangers aren’t believed to be committed to heading down a path as sellers, considering they enter play Monday only 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card spot in the American League. Nonetheless, Texas reportedly began to gauge the market last week to determine Darvish’s trade value.
The Dodgers reportedly scouted the right-hander in his last start and are said to have significant interest in pursuing a trade. The Rangers are reported as likely wanting two prospects from the Dodgers’ top of the farm system: Yadier Alvarez, Walker Buehler, Willie Calhoun and Alex Verdugo.
It’s believed the Dodgers are most-keen on not trading Buehler or Verdugo. Some have Alvarez in that group as well. Of course, their willingness to trade and level of aggression could in theory be impacted by the projection Clayton Kershaw will miss at least one month with a back injury.
The DodgerBlue.com staff weighed in with their trade proposals for Darvish.
Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015)
Assuming the report of the Rangers wanting two top prospects in exchange for Yu Darvish is accurate, I think I’d be comfortable packaging Yadier Alvarez and Willie Calhoun.
While an electric arm, Alvarez’s command concerns me. It was a question mark when he was signed out of Cuba during the 2015-16 international signing period, and he’s continued to be plagued by it.
With the likes of Buehler, Trevor Oaks, Dennis Santana, Mitchell White and not to mention Julio Urias still part of the organization, Alvarez in some sense becomes expendable.
My willingness to trade Calhoun certainly isn’t an indictment on the 22-year-old. Calhoun has hit, and hit well, at every Minor League stop. He just simply doesn’t appear to fit on the Dodgers’ roster.
There are concerns about Calhoun’s ability to play second base at the Major League level, which has led to him logging time in left field for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. Corner outfield is not exactly areas of need for the Dodgers.
Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand):
I’m not as high on Yu Darvish as perhaps most others, simply because he is set to hit free agency this offseason. If he was under team control for another season or two I would have absolutely no problem giving Texas two of their desired prospects (i.e. Yadier Alvarez and Willie Calhoun).
But for a rental starting pitcher with an injury history, I would only be willing to give up Calhoun, a mid-tier prospect such as Trevor Oaks or Josh Sborz, and a lower-level prospect. If the Rangers are looking for prospects that are more Major-League ready, then I would be willing to include the likes of Brock Stewart or Ross Stripling.
I know there are question marks surrounding Alvarez, particularly in regards to his command, but an arm like his is not something I would necessarily want to give up for a rental. If Darvish and the Dodgers have longterm plans in mind, then that’s a different story.
Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel):
For me, I’ll pass on a three-month rental if the cost is this high. I just think giving up two premium prospects for someone who is going to make at the most five or six meaningful starts, is a bit steep for me.
I have no problem sending out Calhoun along with one or two tier-two prospects, but the other elite prospects aren’t going anywhere in my book unless the Dodgers receive someone with more team control.
Matt Borelli (@MattDodgerBlue):
For me, Walker Buehler is just about untouchable in any deal — especially one for a rental such as Yu Darvish.
While the Rangers presumably covet Alex Verdugo as their center fielder of the future, I wouldn’t move him either, unless the Dodgers were getting back a controllable arm such as Chris Archer or Sonny Gray .
As for Yadier Alvarez and Willie Calhoun, I would certainly include them in a trade for Darvish. While Alvarez has shown potential of being a front line-caliber starting pitcher, some scouts believe he’ll ultimately wind up in the bullpen.
And while Calhoun can mash, his defense is too much of a liability at this point, making him better suited for an American League club. Even before Clayton Kershaw’s back betrayed him again, I thought Darvish was a perfect fit for the Dodgers.
He’d be the most talented right-handed starter on the roster and can split up the three lefties in a postseason rotation. Depending on the severity of Kershaw’s injury, I think acquiring Darvish is almost a “must” for a team eyeing its first World Series in 29 years.
Jared Massey (@JarredJMassey):
While Yu Darvish has been a dominant pitcher at times during his tenure in the Majors, his production has dipped this season because of a five percent drop in strikeout rate.
However, with Clayton Kershaw hitting the disabled list for at least a month and potentially longer, a top-shelf right-handed starter becomes more of a utility rather than luxury.
A three-month rental shouldn’t cause a team to empty out the top of their farm system, but if Darvish is the target, at least one top prospect is likely to head out. The Dodgers would likely prefer to tab Willie Calhoun as the headliner, since he’s better suited in the American League and blocked on the current big league roster.
The Rangers are said to covet pitching, and the Dodgers have plenty of it at the top of their system. Brock Stewart has been relegated to the bullpen due to the team’s depth this year and could be an attractive option for Texas.
Another arm, such as Trevor Oaks, is also close to the Majors (even though he’s currently dealing with an oblique injury). Calhoun, Stewart and Oaks should provide enough upside and MLB-ready talent to coax the Rangers to deal Darvish.
Eric Avakian (@AvakEric):
The unfortunate injury to Clayton Kershaw put a damper on the season but has also puts things into perspective. Although the Dodgers have a rich farm system, the front office has remained methodical in how they would proceed with a potential trade.
When looking at the prospects mentioned for a Yu Darvish trade, I would consider a package centered around Yadier Alvarez and Willie Calhoun. Although Calhoun does have power and a smooth-swinging bat, the Dodgers haven’t exactly settled on a position for the slugger.
In my eyes, Walker Buehler and Alex Verdugo remain untouchable assets, in a trade that likely wouldn’t have a great returning value, especially down the line. Darvish’s contract is up this season, meaning the Dodgers may acquire the right-handed pitcher as a rental.
If Darvish were to join the Dodgers, it would heavily solidify the playoff starting rotation behind Kershaw. A playoff rotation of Kershaw, Darvish, Rich Hill and Alex Wood would signal an all-in approach.
