The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the offseason with Trea Turner among their most notable free agents and facing the prospect of losing an All-Star shortstop for a second consecutive year.
Despite initial reports that the Dodgers had interest in re-signing Turner, that probability decreased as a strong market formed and he was in line to receive a long-term contract. L.A. additionally was linked to Xander Bogaerts, Carlos Correa and Dansby Swanson, but they aren’t believed to have seriously pursued any of the top shortstops.
According to Craig Mish of the Miami Herald, the Dodgers are on the verge of trading prospect Jacob Amaya to the Miami Marlins for Miguel Rojas:
Marlins on the verge of trading Miguel Rojas to the Los Angeles Dodgers per sources. The player the Marlins will receive in return is infielder Jacob Amaya. Per sources.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) January 11, 2023
The Dodgers trading for Rojas could give them a new starting shortstop or fill the utility role vacated by Hanser Alberto. President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts recently suggested the team was confident in Gavin Lux being their starting shortstop come Opening Day of the 2023 season.
The trade also marks a return for Rojas, who signed with the Dodgers in November 2012. He famously made a terrific stop at third base to preserve Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014.
Rojas has been with the Marlins since the 2015 season. The veteran infielder experienced some decline at the plate last season but remains a productive hitter and owns a strong glove.
Amaya was projected to potentially make his MLB debut this season, but questions remain over his hit tool. Amaya was added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster after the 2021 season in order to protect against possibly being selected in the Rule 5 Draft.
Amaya hit a combined .261/.369/.427 with 20 doubles, 17 home runs and 71 RBI with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City last year.
Dodgers luxury tax implications with Miguel Rojas trade
The Dodgers needing to pay $22.5 million to Trevor Bauer for the 2023 season put them up against the luxury tax threshold, and the Rojas trade has them projected to exceed it.
The Marlins signed Rojas to a two-year, $10 million contract before the 2022 season. He is due to receive a $4.5 million salary this year, but luxury tax calculations is based off average annual value of a deal, which for Rojas is $5 million.
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