Dodgers & Rays
Submitted by: mp2891
Dodgers
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Randy Arozarena | 29 | Majors | OF | Low | 3 | 76.2 | 42.8 | 33.5 | 26.8 | 33.5 | 40.1 |
Total Value:
33.5
Rays
| Name | Age | Level | P1 | P2 | Availability | Years | AFV | Salary | Surplus | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kyle Hurt | 25 | Majors | SP | 6 | 60.1 | 44.3 | 15.8 | 12.6 | 15.8 | 18.9 | ||
| Dalton Rushing | 22 | Minors | C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17.7 | 14.2 | 17.7 | 21.3 | ||
| Joendry Vargas | 17 | Minors | SS | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2.5 | 2 | 2.5 | 3 |
Total Value:
36
Comments
6Dodgers are all in for the next few seasons, so it's odd that their COFs aren't better. Heyward and Margot form a decent platoon in one spot. C.Taylor is currently holding down the other spot and that's less than ideal. Trading for fan favorite Aroz is the answer. He's as close to a lock for 125 wRC+ and around 3 fWAR as there is, which is a huge improvement on Taylor. To get him though, the Dodgers have to part with one of their two top catching prospects, a ready for the Show SP prospect who probably would be a reliever for the Dodgers, and a far-off high upside SS prospect. It hurts, but Aroz should be someone the Dodgers want. From the Rays' perspective, the catching position is a perennial black hole, their rotation needs additional bodies and with Franco looking like he won't ever play again, they need to start stockpiling high upside SS prospects in case C.Williams doesn't work out (and he's a year out as is).
NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP!
I like Rushing but you know how big TB is with defense from the catcher position, do you think he can improve enough to stay there? I worry he's an expensive (trade cost wise) Burlson, I think he's worth the gamble but their is risk to it, Hurt is pretty underrated to me, would love to get him.
I keep going back and forth on Rushing's defense. This trade is premised on the Rays believing his defense can improve enough (he's still several years out) or that an automated strike zone is coming and it won't matter.
I do think Arozarena would be a good fit for the Dodgers LHH heavy lineup. They definitely need an upgrade over Taylor and Margot. Taylor's better off as a super utility player than a regular starting OF. However, I do think Lane Thomas might be the better fit for the RHH OF that can mash LHP. Much lower prospect cost. Also, if the Dodgers and Rays were going to connect on an Arozarena trade, I imagine it would've already happened as part of the Glasnow deal.
Thomas might work for the Dodgers, I don't know. The past 2 years Thomas has played full seasons and put up 97 and 109 wRC+ respectively. Trend is improving, which you like to see. His splits were 153 wRC+ (LHP) and 91 wRC+ (RHP) last year, which will work in a platoon. However, in 2022, his splits were 106 (LHP) and 92 (RHP), which doesn't work for me, because... his defense was -3 OAA each year. I'm a Rays fan, so I like the RHB portion of a platoon to bring good defense to the table and also be a late inning defensive replacement. Thomas is a negative in the field and hits RHB (ie: the majority of pitchers) about 10% below league average. Aroz is the better overall player and is above average against both handed pitchers. However, if the Dodgers are a LHB dominant team, then a guy like Thomas might work for them. I don't begrudge a team doing what's right for them, even if it screws up my plans for the Rays. ;)
I don't think the Dodgers are out of the running on an Aroz trade just because he wasn't included in the Glas trade. Aroz is a high value trade asset that the Rays will want to maximize, but he has a totally different market than Glasnow (e.g., Mariners) and the Rays felt more urgency in moving Glasnow/Margot because of the fewer years of control and the higher salaries. It made more sense to the Rays to trade Glas/Aroz separately than limit their options to just the Dodgers. I suspect the Rays are engaged in active negotiations over Aroz now though.