As the July 30 MLB trade deadline rapidly approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers are actively searching the market for pitching and it appears likely addressing their need will require parting with a few prospects in the coming days.
While the Dodgers’ farm system has taken a hit in recent years due to trades and promotions, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman still has talented players he can trade. Friedman hasn’t been afraid to part with prospects in the past, notably acquiring Yu Darvish (2017) and Manny Machado (2018).
With the Dodgers focused on pitching at the trade deadline this season, they have most prominently been linked to the likes of Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer, the Colorado Rockies’ Germán Márquez, and José Berríos of the Minnesota Twins.
In turn, Dodgers prospects Diego Cartaya, Andre Jackson, Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Keibert Ruiz have been the subject of trade interest, per Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:
Friedman is confident he has the high-end prospects to complete any deal, with catcher Keibert Ruiz, who is batting .305 with 16 homers and 44 RBIs in 50 games at triple-A Oklahoma City, catcher Diego Cartaya and pitchers Bobby Miller, Ryan Pepiot and Andre Jackson garnering plenty of trade interest.
The Dodgers have three players in MLB Pipelines, top 100 list in Ruiz, Josiah Gray and Michael Busch, and two more according to Baseball America: Miller and Cartaya.
It’s hard to see the Dodgers trading Gray because of their need for MLB-ready pitchers, but the rest will likely be discussed in most negotiations, even if they are unlikely to be included.
L.A. might be more willing to include Ruiz or Cartaya in a deal because catcher is an area of strength for them, especially with Will Smith looking like a perennial All-Star.
Other talented prospects they could move are infielders Kody Hoese, Brandon Lewis, Jacob Amaya, Miguel Vargas and Alex De Jesus; outfielder Andy Pages, catcher Jesus Galiz, and pitchers Andre Jackson, Ryan Pepiot, Clayton Beeter, Landon Knack, Jimmy Lewis Gerardo Carillo, Michael Grove and Kendall Williams.
Dodgers won’t trade Ruiz for rental
While Ruiz has seemingly been the subject of trade rumors for multiple years, the Dodgers thus far have indicated they would not move the young catcher. However, now their stance appears to have shifted some in that L.A. is said to be against trading Ruiz for a player who is not under contract beyond this season.
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