Rumors continue to circulate that the Dodgers are exploring the trade market for a center fielder. Those rumors and suppositions are rooted in the performance of Andy Pages, the team’s de facto center fielder, as he struggles offensively and defensively. While Pages occasionally comes through with a big hit or defensive play, his overall body of work this season ranks him near the bottom of MLB center fielders with 20 or more plate appearances (26th on Fangraphs). That will not get the job done for a team with the goal of winning the World Series in 2025.
Luis Robert Jr., the Chicago White Sox center fielder, continues to be mentioned as a Dodgers trade target, but over the last two seasons he has performed around the same level as Pages – and he is being paid $15M. It is doubtful that the he is considered an upgrade over Pages.
The Dodgers need better than Pages and Robert Jr. as their regular center fielder.
Who might that be?
If the team could find an everyday second baseman, or a lefty hitting platoon partner for Messrs. Kiké Hernández, Miguel Rojas, or Chris Taylor, then Tommy Edman makes center field his regular position. In Spring Training, South Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim (26 years old) was thought to be a second baseman, but he has yet to demonstrate that he can consistently hit Major League (or Triple-A) pitching. The team’s number five prospect, 23-yeaer-old shortstop Alex Freeland, is having a fine season for the Oklahoma City Comets, but the Dodgers may be hesitant to add him to the 40-man roster that would require a corresponding departure.
The team may look for a platoon partner to share center field duties with Pages (and a late-inning defensive replacement). Players like the New York Yankees Trent Grisham, Colorado Rockies Mickey Moniak, or Toronto Blue Jays Dalton Varsho (scheduled to come off the IL later this month) would get the job done in the short term. This may be the preferred option for the Dodgers if they plan to make outfielder Kyle Tucker their next free-agent signing after this season.
There are two players who the Dodgers could pursue as their center fielder for the longer term: Seattle Mariners Julio Rodríguez or Colorado Rockies Brenton Doyle. Either player would be a terrific addition to the Dodgers, but it is likely that both are considered untouchable for trades; their respective teams would have to be overwhelmed by a trade offer.
Fortunately, the Dodgers have the trade capital to make an overwhelming offer for the right player.
Rodríguez is considered to be one of the best all-around center fielders in the MLB. Only 24 years old, he is currently playing under a 12-year team-friendly contract. Adding him to the roster would take care of center field for the next decade. What would it take to acquire Rodríguez? A LOT! But the Dodgers have the depth to make an overwhelming offer focused around Pages and current number two prospect Dalton Rushing (catcher/first base). Others would have to be added to pry Rodríguez away from Seattle, perhaps pitching prospects Justin Wrobleski and Landon Knack.
A huge price to pay for one player, but Rodríguez would be worth the short term cost.
The other option, Doyle (who will be 27 next month) is a rising five-tool star for the Rockies – the type of player a team builds around. But the Rockies are a bad team in need of more ready-now players to be more competitive for postseason play. A Dodgers trade package would not rise to the level of Rodríguez but substantial enough to acquire Doyle. Perhaps Rushing, Wrobleski, Knack, and James Outman would put Doyle in Dodgers Blue.
What do you think Dodgers fans, a short-term fix that keeps the top-level prospects, or a blockbuster deal that fixes center field for the next several seasons? Who would you pursue for the Dodgers in centerfield? Let ThinkBlue hear from you.
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