Blockbuster Trade the Dodgers Need to Make Coming Off Their 2024 World Series Win

11/19/2024 03:19 PM

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be active this offseason coming off their second World Series championship in five years. Despite spending over $1 billion last winter, the team plans to be aggressive again, continuing to shore up the roster as they aim to become the first back-to-back World Series champion since the New York Yankees won three straight from 1998-2000.

The Dodgers have made a few minor league signings thus far, and they’re also meeting with the prize of this year’s free agent class, Juan Soto, on Tuesday. Aside from that, the major news that has come from L.A. this offseason was general manager Brandon Gomes announcing that Mookie Betts would be returning to the infield in 2025.

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Betts, who entered last season as the team’s starting second baseman, was quickly moved over to shortstop as Gavin Lux struggled defensively coming back from a torn ACL. Betts was then the team’s shortstop until he broke his hand in June, and when he returned in August, he went back to right field.

While the Dodgers lineup seems to be optimized with Betts in right field, the three-time World Series champion has made his intentions clear about returning to the infield. Thus, the Dodgers are planning on granting him that wish.

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Betts’ return to the infield creates a bit of a logjam, though. Betts, Lux, Miguel Rojas, and Tommy Edman can all play the middle infield, and the team is also linked to star free agent shortstop Willy Adames. It’s unlikely Betts goes back to shortstop, meaning he’s likely going to be the team’s second baseman come Opening Day of 2025.

With Betts at second base, Lux, Rojas, and Edman would all be options at shortstop. However, Rojas and Edman seem to be the better options defensively after Lux struggled last spring and ended up playing much better at second base. So, at this point, Lux appears to be the odd man out.

While the Dodgers would love to keep Lux, a homegrown talent and former first-round pick who came into his own last year, the team also has bigger offensive needs in the outfield, and tons of needs on the pitching side of things. Thus, Lux is a perfect trade candidate.

While Lux could very well headline a package for All-Star ace Garrett Crochet of the Chicago White Sox, who are looking for position players, there’s another trade that makes even more sense for Lux and the Dodgers. Lux should headline a package to the Milwaukee Brewers for two-time All-Star right-handed reliever Devin Williams, who’s entering his final year of team control and is a prime candidate to be moved. Here is what the full package would look like:

Dodgers receive: Right-handed pitcher Devin Williams

Brewers receive: Infielder Gavin Lux, right-handed pitching Peter Heubeck, right-handed pitching prospect Payton Martin

Why the Dodgers Would Do This Trade

The Dodgers are getting one of the nastiest relievers in baseball in Williams, a two-time National League Reliever of the Year award winner who has a career 1.83 ERA, and hasn’t had an ERA above 2.50 since his rookie year.

Williams, nicknamed the “Airbender” because of his devastating changeup, would fit in perfectly in the back of the Dodgers’ bullpen as a true closer or eighth inning option alongside Michael Kopech.

A bullpen of Kopech, Williams, Evan Phillips, and Alex Vesia would be downright unfair, and would make the L.A. bullpen even better a year after that same group willed the Dodgers to a World Series win.

Why the Brewers Would Do This Trade

As for the Brewers, they’re getting a 26-year-old infielder with two more years of team control who had a solid season coming off a torn ACL, hitting .251 with a career-high 10 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a wRC+ of 104. The Brewers are expecting to lose Adames, and could move second baseman Brice Turang back to shortstop, with Joey Ortiz staying at third base. That would create an opening at second base, which would be perfect for Lux, the Kenosha, Wisconsin native who grew up 40 miles from the Brewers’ home stadium.

As for the pitchers, the Brewers are getting two of the Dodgers’ top 30 pitching prospects who are expected to debut in the next few seasons. Heubeck had a 3.05 ERA across 24 starts in High-A last year, while Martin had a 3.38 ERA across 13 starts in High-A. The Brewers would get the opportunity to develop each of these pitchers, while also getting Lux as their potential second baseman of the future.

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