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Four Dodgers Players Who Should Be Untouchable at Trade Deadline
Four Dodgers Players Who Should Be Untouchable at Trade Deadline
The Los Angeles Dodgers are no doubt in win-now mode, but they are known for their reluctance to let their true gems leave the facility.
The Dodgers are days away from making the decision about whether they want to trade for Tarik Skubal, the upcoming free agent, for a middling Detroit Tigers team that is still on the outside looking in on the playoff picture.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAs a pitcher with a case of being the best pitcher on the planet, Skubal will command a high price on the trade market for any contender that wants him.
Despite the Dodgers’ perpetual status as a contender, LA has the farm system and organizational depth to build a quality trade package and remain healthy in the long term.
However, when following how the Dodgers tend to operate, they will not give up certain players if they think that they are truly special.
Here are four players who may fall into the category, and at the very least, the Dodgers will be hesitant in trading:
De Paula is the consensus No. 1 prospect for the Dodgers, and when looking at his swing and power potential, he may be the best pure hitter since Corey Seager to enter the Dodgers’ prospect system.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe is MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 overall prospect, and at Double-A, he is tearing it up.
De Paula hits .309 and has a .932 OPS, along with 16 home runs and 71 RBI, and 27 stolen bases as well.
When digging up the hood, De Paula boasts a 13.5% strikeout rate and the same walk rate as well. He is not only punishing any mistakes, but De Paula makes great swing decisions, a true offensive machine.
The main issue with De Paula is his defense and Shohei Ohtani locking up the designated hitter spot, but like Yordan Alvarez, great hitters can make up for any defensive lapses.
Sirota dominated in High-A, hitting .325/.478/.602, which forced the Dodgers to promote him up to Double-A.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNow, with the Tulsa Drillers, Sirota is dominating again, forming an elite 1-2 punch with De Paula. Sirota has a .317/.466/.522 with seven home runs.
He just lost his on-base streak, which reached 72 consecutive games, the second longest in minor league history.
As someone who is still a bit away from the major leagues, the Dodgers can afford to keep him in the picture and see out a hitter who is taking every step up the ladder well.
The Dodgers’ outfield depth is strong in their farm system, but there is a lack of truly standout arms.
Zazueta looks like a unicorn and may be too good to deal with at this point. He has a fastball graded among the very best for a pitcher, with elite movement and rise — comparable to some of the best ever scouted thus far.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAt just 21 years old, he is pitching in Double-A and dominating, posting a 2.14 ERA through 21 innings. Before then, he had pitched 48.2 innings in High-A with a 3.88 ERA.
It won’t be long before Zazueta is added to a 40-man roster and can contribute to the big league team. His presence makes other pitchers tradeable, and given his steady rise, Zazueta could become a key piece for the Dodgers for years.
Quintero is about to be 21 years old, and as a prospect, he is quite raw, but there is so much potential. He just made the move to High-A this year, where he started off slow, but he is now hitting .292/.421/.471 with nine home runs.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith elite athleticism and speed, he can play all over the outfield, including center field, making him an extremely valuable player.
Yes, he is yet another outfielder, but given his timeline, he will put him in the majors around 2028; the Dodgers have plenty of time to develop and mold him, while not needing to think about how he factors into the outfield picture.
Right now, it looks like Andy Pages will lock down the center field spot, but things change quickly in baseball, and compared to other prospects, Quintero stands out as one of the outfielders to keep in terms of developmental timeline.