Why are January 15 and 23, 2025 dates important to the Dodgers completing their roster for the upcoming MLB season?
January 15 is the first day of the 2025 international signing period when all MLB teams reset their respective bonus pools. Signing before the 15th greatly reduces Roki Sasaki’s earning potential as a posted NPB player. And January 23rd is the last day of his negotiating window with MLB teams. If not signed by the end of that day, he must return to the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization (NPB) for at least one more year.
(Eugene Hoshiko)
For the Dodgers, Sasaki’s decision may be the determining factor in other major acquisitions.
The team is loaded with talented, right-handed pitchers, adding the 23-year-old Sasaki would allow the Dodgers to package a couple of those highly regarded pitchers for either a regular center fielder, shortstop, and/or third baseman Nolan Arenado.
Which players might be available to the Dodgers for the right combination of pitching talent and perhaps position players Gavin Lux, James Outman, and/or Andy Pages?
It’s common knowledge that the St. Louis Cardinals are desperate to find a trade partner for their 33-year-old third baseman Nolan Arenado — willing to accept any reasonable trade offer, to the point of paying $15M (or more) of his remaining, guaranteed salary. If Dodgers want Arenado it will not take long to work out the trade.
The rebuilding Chicago White Sox are reportedly shopping their oft injured, 27-year-old center fielder Luis Robert Jr. Looking for Major League-ready talent, the White Sox are not going to just dump Robert Jr. But, a reasonable offer would put him in the Dodgers center field with Tommy Edman moving to short stop, and Mookie Betts to second base.
Reportedly, the Toronto Blue Jays are open to trade proposals for their 26-year-old shortstop Bo Bichette, who will be a free agent after the 2025 season, but the cost will be high. Perhaps two pitching prospects and a Major League-ready infielder or outfielder. Pitchers Landon Knack and Bobby Miller packaged with infielder Gavin Lux might be enough to acquire Bichette, with Betts moving to second base.
Dodgers and Seattle Mariners seem well aligned for a relatively minor deal that helps both teams, but they could also make a trade that would easily fit the description of BLOCKBUSTER.
The more likely minor trade scenario would send the 27-year-old Lux to Seattle for 27-year-old center fielder Victor Robles and 25-year-old utility infield prospect Ryan Bliss. Acquiring Robles moves Edman to shortstop and Betts to second base.
Then, there is the BLOCKBUSTER that is unlikely, but one that helps both teams and would be headline worthy:
Dodgers receive 24-year-old centerfielder Julio Rodriguez, 26-year-old closer Andres Munoz, and Bliss.
Seattle acquires pitching prospects Edgardo Henriquez (22 years old) and Bobby Miller (25 years old), second baseman Lux, outfielder Andy Pages (24 years old), and the Dodgers number three prospect, shortstop Alex Freeland (23 years old).
Which trade(s), if any, are waiting on the Sasaki’s decision? To be determined after January 15.
What do you think Dodgers fans?
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