Regardless of whether they sign Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Dodgers can entertain a multitude of trade options, including a long-speculated deal for right-hander Corbin Burnes and/or Willy Adames.
Burnes obviously would help fill the void in the Dodgers’ rotation, and Adames would give them a defensive upgrade at shortstop over Gavin Lux. A native of Kenosha, Wi., Lux could even go back to the Brewers in the trade and become the team’s second baseman, with Brice Turang moving to short.
Another possibility for the Dodgers, who are seeking a right-handed utility/outfield bat: A reunion with free agent Kiké Hernández, who underwent double-hernia surgery on Oct. 24 but should be ready for spring training.
• The Reds’ interest in a one-year trade option such as Rays righty Tyler Glasnow hinges on how they view themselves for 2024.
The NL Central is one of the game’s weaker divisions, and the Reds competed well last season, finishing 82-80 and missing a wild-card berth by only two games. But as younger players mature, the team’s best chance of competing might be in 2025 and beyond, making controllable starting pitching more of a priority.
The problem, at least from a trade perspective, is that the Reds might not be willing to meet the White Sox’s price for righty Dylan Cease, who is under control for two more seasons. The Reds covet their young talent, though like the Orioles, their depth is sufficient enough for them to pare off certain players in trades.
• Some in the industry interpreted the Braves’ trade with the Mariners for outfielder Jarred Kelenic, lefty Marco Gonzales and first baseman Evan White as a potential precursor to a deal for Cease, but there does not appear to be a link between the two.
Gonzales, in theory, could have helped fill a gap in the White Sox’s rotation, but the Braves on Tuesday night traded him to the Pirates. The White Sox are familiar with Kelenic from their days scouting him at Waukesha West (Wi.) High. But now that Kelenic has been traded twice, some clubs question whether he will ever fulfill the potential he showed as the No. 6 overall pick in the 2018 draft.
The Braves, though, are intrigued by Kelenic, a left-handed hitter who is still only 24 and under club control for five more seasons. Braves president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said Kelenic was the only position player he targeted this offseason.
• Free-agent left-hander Eduardo Rodríguez met in person with several clubs at the meetings, and those clubs either made offers or outlined the parameters of a deal, according to the pitcher’s agent, Gene Mato.
The plan now, Mato said, is to “take a breath,” weigh potential fits and continue to engage with those specific clubs. The Athletic’s Jim Bowden pegged Rodríguez for a five-year, $90 million contract. MLB Trade Rumors predicted four years, $82 million.
• Free agent Isiah Kiner-Falefa, 28, is something of a hot commodity, with the Marlins and Brewers among the teams showing interest. Considering his age and versatility, a multi-year deal appears within reach.
Kiner-Falefa, after a trying season as the Yankees’ shortstop in 2022, re-invented himself as a super-utility man last season, playing outfield in the majors for the first time, including 29 starts in center, 28 in left and four in right. His only previous experience in the outfield was 10 combined games in the minors from 2015 to ‘17.
• Three people who once worked closely together — Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns, Cubs manager Craig Counsell and Brewers manager Pat Murphy — all were on the same flight from Milwaukee to Nashville on Sunday night.
Though the situation might scream “awkward,” it actually was anything but. The three maintain strong relationships. Stearns spoke highly of Counsell after their potential reunion did not materialize with the Mets. Murphy was Counsell’s bench coach with the Brewers and college coach at Norte Dame.
The three will now be National League rivals.
• And finally, is it possible Red Sox manager Alex Cora could be next year’s Counsell, a hot free agent on the managerial market?
Cora is unsigned beyond this season and working under a new head of baseball operations, Craig Breslow. Reporters asked Cora about his situation at the meetings on Tuesday.
“I’m very comfortable with it,” Cora said. “I think at the end of the day if (Cora’s wife) Angelica is happy and the boys are happy and my daughter is happy, we’re fine.
“I understand how it works. I know there’s something we’re going to discuss. We’re going to talk with time, but I think right now from my end I’m not being selfish. I think the most important thing right now is to make this team better.”
(Top photo of Corbin Burnes: Justin Berl / Getty Images)
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