For much of the past three seasons the Los Angeles Dodgers have carried a surplus of outfielders on their active roster.
The position group’s depth grew a bit this offseason as the Dodgers’ three-team trade with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox added Trayce Thompson to the organization.
Los Angeles also acquired second baseman Micah Johnson and right-hander Frankie Montas in the trade. Thompson made his Major League debut with the White Sox last season, appearing in 44 games.
The Dodgers currently have eight outfielders on their 40-man roster; the number includes super utility man Kiké Hernandez.
Recent reports have the White Sox kicking the tires on a potential trade for Andre Ethier. However, it’s believed Chicago first inquired on Yasiel Puig, who the Dodgers are not interested in trading.
While Ethier and perhaps to a lesser extent, Puig, are drawing interest, Los Angeles reportedly prefers to trade Carl Crawford.
Do the Dodgers need to trade an outfielder? Should they? The DodgerBlue.com staff weighed in:
Matthew Moreno (@MMoreno1015)
While I do believe the Dodgers should trade an outfielder, I’m not sure if there’s a move to be made given the rumored candidates. Ideally, Crawford and/or Alex Guerrero would be shipped out.
I just don’t know if that’s feasible. Crawford’s age and contract make him difficult to move, while Guerrero comes with plenty of uncertainty and can opt out of his contract after the season in which he was traded.
He began last season well but cooled off, and his best “position” is designated hitter — assuming he can get squared away at the plate.
Barring a return that’s too good to turn down, trading Ethier would be a mistake. Yes, April 21 looms large as he’ll become a 10-and-5 player, but he presumably would waive the no-trade clause if playing time isn’t coming his way.
Trading Ethier at this juncture, specifically without yet seeing what Puig will provide, is too risky of a proposition for my liking. To sum it all up, I believe the Dodgers should break up the glut of outfielders if it means dealing Crawford or Guerrero.
Daniel Starkand (@DStarkand)
I think it would suit the Dodgers best to trade at least one, maybe even two outfielders. The two obvious names are Ethier and Crawford, but I would also include Guerrero in that category.
If they could trade any of them for a hard-throwing right-handed reliever, then I would not hesitate to pull the trigger. I would even include some money in the deal.
I believe Thompson is a Major-League ready prospect, and I would like to see him, along with Joc Pederson and Puig, if they are producing, as the team’s everyday outfielders by the trade deadline.
Matt Borelli (@MattDodgerBlue):
I don’t believe the Dodgers need to trade an outfielder. Having a plethora of depth is vital, especially if a player gets injured or struggles early in the season.
Additionally, the excess of depth gives new manager Dave Roberts a variety of options to choose from when constructing a lineup, where he can decide who to play based on the matchup or simply go with the hot bat.
If the front office believes a trade is necessary down the stretch, it makes more sense to entertain the idea closer the trade deadline where there will be more buyers, rather than selling low on a player in February.
CONTINUE READING: Making The Case To Trade An Outfielder
Stacie Wheeler (@organicallyrude):
The Dodgers do not necessarily need to trade one of their Major League outfielders, but they should attempt to trade an outfielder if they are able to get a good return in a potential deal.
Considering Crawford’s health history, his lack of flexibility around the outfield and his significant contract, it would make most sense to look for ways to move Crawford before the Dodgers have to pay him another $23 million or so per year for the next two seasons.
The Dodgers very well could hang on to all their outfielders like they have done the past few seasons, because depth is certainly an important asset to the front office.
Eric Avakian (@AvakEric):
The Dodgers do not need to trade an outfielder. However, the front office should continue with their open-minded approach. The Dodgers would ideally like to get rid of Crawford, but it would require them to pay a significant amount of his remaining salary.
Any trade would still need to be worth their while. A deep lineup is a rare commodity to have and is of benefit with potential injuries over a 16-2 game season.
Although the Dodgers are anticipating healthy seasons from Ethier, Pederson, and Puig, depth in the outfield would be nice to have for first-year manager Dave Roberts.
Jeff Spiegel (@JeffSpiegel):
It’s obvious the Dodgers have too many outfielders, but in a league with guaranteed contracts, having too many doesn’t always require a trade.
Sure, trading someone would be nice if you got something back, but trading a player who will contribute — even if it’s just a little — for basically nothing isn’t reasonable.
Specifically, let’s address the White Sox’s reported interest in Ethier. The initial reaction: sweet! But then, you read more and realize the Dodgers may have to pay half of his remaining contract and still wouldn’t get a high-level prospect back? Mehhhhh.
Ethier is going to play a significant role on this team (even if it isn’t a full-time one). To give that up just to save a little bit of money seems foolish. So yes, if the deal is right, I’m all for a trade, but the way things are going it seems like standing pat is the right move.
Jared Massey (@JarredJMassey):
The Dodgers definitely need to trade an outfielder. The main problem is getting a decent return. Particularly for Pederson and Puig, Los Angeles would need good, young talent in return to justify a deal.
Coming off an injury-plagued season, there’s no way Puig would net fair value on the trade market, and the Dodgers should be in no rush to give up on Pederson. Ethier and Scott Van Slyke are also difficult to place value on.
Together, they’re productive pieces on a roster, but apart, they’d require a counterpart to avoid exploiting their weaknesses. That leaves Crawford, who’s nearly immovable.
Barring the Dodgers eating three-fourths of his contract, Crawford likely isn’t going anywhere. So, while trading an outfielder has presumably been a goal since the new front office took over, it doesn’t appear likely to happen anytime soon.