It has largely been a quiet offseason to this point for the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that could change at any moment with just over one month remaining until the scheduled start of Spring Training.
The club still faces significant roster questions, most notably at third base with Justin Turner unsigned. He is said to be seeking a four-year contract, but L.A. reportedly prefers bringing him back on a deal with a maximum length of two years.
If the two sides can’t reach an agreement and Turner signs elsewhere, the Dodgers are expected to look outside of the organization for another third baseman, per Jorge Castillo of the L.A. Times:
The Dodgers have internal options to fill the void but likely would seek to acquire a third baseman if Turner signed with another franchise, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
The Dodgers have a few in-house candidates who could replace Turner at third base if necessary, but pursuing an upgrade via trade may be more beneficial. Luckily for the club, there are several intriguing players rumored to be available.
Nolan Arenado could be on the move and the Dodgers have been long mentioned as a possible landing spot. However, the Colorado Rockies reportedly remain committed to their preference of trading him outside the National League West.
That leaves Kris Bryant and Eugenio Suarez as the most realistic options L.A. could target. The Chicago Cubs have already non-tendered Kyle Schwarber and traded Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres this offseason, signaling the start of a rebuild.
Bryant is due to earn $18.6 million in the final year of arbitration this season and the Cubs would likely pounce at the opportunity to move those dollars elsewhere. The same can be said for Suarez and the Cincinnati Reds, who also are looking to clear payroll this offseason.
Potential free agent options to replace Turner
If not a trade, the Dodgers could turn to the free agent market for potential solutions at third base. The most appealing option by far is DJ LeMahieu, who L.A. has reportedly maintained interest in.
However, if LeMahieu re-signs with the New York Yankees as many still expect, other free agents the Dodgers could pursue include Marwin Gonzalez, Todd Frazier and Maikel Franco.
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