By late Sunday evening the Los Angeles Dodgers were still being connected to Cincinnati Reds outfielder Jay Bruce, and were said to have circled back around to the Chicago White Sox to discuss a potential trade for ace Chris Sale.
However, with the non-waiver trade deadline now less than five hours away, the Dodgers are believed to have fallen behind the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants and Texas Rangers in the Bruce sweepstakes. Los Angeles nonetheless continues to be linked to multiple trade scenarios involving a starting pitcher.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said on Sunday he didn’t believe there was one area of his roster that needed to be addressed more so than any other.
Of course, given the uncertainty surrounding Clayton Kershaw’s return, Los Angeles acquiring an ace presumably would go a long way. They are said to be engaged in talks with the Tampa Bay Rays.
If their course of action to bolster the starting rotation is by way of acquiring Sale, it may come at the cost of top prospects Cody Bellinger, Jose De Leon and Julio Urias, among others, who have been part of trade discussions, per Phil Rogers of MLB.com:
Names of interest in @whitesox Sale/Quintana talks w/@Dodgers: LHP Julio Urias, 1B-OF Clay Bellinger, OF Alex Verdugo, 2B Willie Calhoun.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) August 1, 2016
Right-hander Jose DeLeon also among @Dodgers prospects being discussed in Chris Sale/Jose Quintana talks.
— Phil Rogers (@philgrogers) August 1, 2016
Along with Joc Pederson and Corey Seager, the Dodgers have essentially made Urias unavailable in any trade talks over recent seasons. However, the club was said to be willing to part with their young lefty in the event Sale became available.
Bellinger, a 21-year-old first baseman, was recently rated the Dodgers’ top prospect by Baseball America in their midseason update. De Leon was second on the list, Alex Verdugo fourth and Willie Calhoun sixth.
It was previously reported the White Sox were asking clubs for their top five prospects, with an emphasis on Major-League ready pitchers, in exchange for Sale.
