Should the Los Angeles Dodgers go after this All-Star pitcher?
The Los Angeles Dodgers should be a fascinating team to track at the upcoming trade deadline.
Though they certainly aren't a perfect team, the Dodgers have a more complete roster than pretty much any of their fellow contenders. They don't need major reinforcements, but they could still pursue them and mess up their rivals' plans in the process.
Los Angeles' rotation could be set by playoff time if all of their injured hurlers come back healthy. But there's one potential trade chip on the market who might carve out a spot for himself even among all those other Dodgers stars.
That trade chip is Seth Lugo of the Kansas City Royals, a 2024 All-Star and presumptive rental thanks to his opt-out this winter. There's no guarantee the 47-50 Royals will be willing to sell, but the Dodgers would be one of many teams interested if they made Lugo available.
On Wednesday, Zach Lutz of Just Baseball discussed Lugo's potential fit for the Dodgers ahead of the Jul. 31 deadline.
"Following a career year in 2024, Lugo is doing it yet again in Kansas City. The 35-year-old veteran who spent years as a swingman spot starter has settled in in the back-half of his career as a durable and reliable starter," Lutz wrote.
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"He’s not flashy, and the underlying numbers suggest regression, but his 2.67 ERA and deep arsenal of pitches should appeal to LA. The concern is cost, as he’s under contract through 2026, and Kansas City won’t move him for cheap."
Lugo's three-year, $45 million contract was tremendous value for the Royals, and their fan base would hate to see him go barely halfway through that commitment. Yet, trading him for a prospect haul is a lot better than missing the playoffs and watching him walk in free agency.
The Dodgers know the Royals are in a bind, and if a trade seems doable, they should aggressively look to find a package that sends Kansas City over the edge.
More MLB: Mets projected to boost rotation with $13.5 million trade chip
Category: Baseball
