Dodgers Could Target All-Star on Trade Block at Deadline
Dodgers Could Target All-Star on TradeThe Los Angeles Dodgers are heavily linked to superstar Tarik Skubal as the Tigers player they can target if Detroit becomes a seller, but someone else could be an option as well.
The MLB world naturally will always link the Dodgers to the biggest name, and Skubal is the headliner in his trade rumor mill.
However, if the Dodgers decided to leave their biggest strength on the roster untouched, second baseman Gleyber Torres could be an option to make the infield younger.
Torres is on a one-year deal, his $22 million qualifying offer, with no more team control beyond this year; he is in a similar boat to Skubal, though he is theoretically more retainable due to his value in free agency being noticeably lower than the two-time Cy Young winner.
Torres’ availability is not theoretical; if the Tigers continue to swim well below .500, he could be part of a fire sale, according to insider Jeff Passan.
The Tigers, entering Saturday’s slate of games, are 29-41 and 5.5 games back on an American League Wild Card berth.
They are getting Skubal back after he missed a month due to shoulder surgery, and they have won seven of their last 10 games.
If their upturn keeps going, they may hold all of their expiring trade chips in the hopes of a late-season push.
If things don’t keep improving, Torres and Skubal will have to enter the picture, and while the pitcher has been talked about at nauseym, let’s break down what Torres could offer to an infield that could use some juice.
To be clear: there is no tangible report of the Dodgers eyeing Torres, but when looking at the MLB landscape, he could be an option.
Torres would actually fit like a glove — he is known for his eye and patience at the plate. While his power is down compared to his usual figures, he has a 123 wRC+ and is hitting .276, his best average since 2019.
His second base play is solid as well, and his bat would offer an upgrade on paper to Tommy Edman, who can move into more of an outright utility role.
He works many long at-bats, and if he is right, his presence is annoying to any pitcher in the postseason, as Torres will drive up any pitch count.
Also, he would be put into an optimal spot in a lineup with so many different weapons and approaches.
There are two key reasons — first, $22 million is a lot to add to the payroll. If the Tigers could take on part of that to help the Dodgers’ salary sheet, it would increase the odds of a deal, but it might require a slightly larger prospect package.
Also, it essentially waves the white flag on Hyeseong Kim and Alex Freeland playing a key role this year unless there are injuries.
The organization is high on both of them, and it is hard to see them putting another cog into an infield jam with so many players that they like.
Also, regarding the regular-season roster size, it would mean moving on from one of Alex Call, Miguel Rojas, or Kike Hernandez, assuming all are healthy at this point, which will certainly not happen in either Rojas’ or Hernandez’s case.
For this reason, a trade for Torres likely only happens if injury requires it, but if that injury does come to the position player group, he will be at the top of any list.
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