It's no secret Los Angeles Dodgers' president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is seeking upgrades in the starting rotation and bullpen, but who exactly is he targeting? The Cincinnati Reds are looking like a prime trade partner for the Dodgers right now.
ESPN Senior Writer Jayson Stark released his "Ten names to watch as the trade deadline approaches" earlier today after talking to a number of baseball executives over the past week or so. Two of the names on that list are Cincinnati Reds' pitchers Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman, who very well could be made available if the Reds can't catch up in the NL Central or wild-card race.
If the club looks to trade these two arms, are the Dodgers the top suitor for both of them?
Stark predicts Cueto "lands with the pitching-hungry Dodgers on July 28" and Chapman "gets traded to the Dodgers to form a scary, late-inning, swing-and-miss tag team with [Kenley] Jansen."
Cueto has been linked to the Dodgers in trade rumors for quite some time now and it's said Friedman is a big fan of the right-hander, but the negotiations for such a deal would be tricky. Cueto dealt with a tender elbow last month, which could suggest the start of something bad for his long-term health. Additionally, he's one of the top pitchers in the game, but he'll only be a rental for the second half of the season, so the Reds' demands could vary. It's unknown what the Dodgers would be willing to offer, but we do know if Cueto is made available there will be many buyers rushing to the front of the line.
It was also recently reported Jordan Zimmermann was atop the Dodgers trade wish list, followed by Cueto and David Price.
On the other hand, Chapman may not even have a shot at being traded. The left-hander is under club control through 2016 and he's been one of the best closers in baseball since 2012. Again, it all depends on how far the Reds' front office decides to go if they're willing to sell.
"The question being asked among scouts: Would the Reds really deal Chapman if push came to shove? Most say no," writes Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. "But Chapman could bring a pretty big haul. He isn't striking out batters at the rate he used to (he struck out more than half the batters he faced in 2014, and is about 30 percent this season), yet that high-90s fastball is still there. He remains one of the most exciting names on the trade market if general manager Walt Jocketty makes him available."
However, the Washington Nationals were rumored to have checked in on Chapman's availability over the weekend. The talks were said to preliminary, but this could be the first step in the Reds exploring the idea. The Dodgers' bullpen is breaking down and they could look for an upgrade as big as Chapman.
"The pitching staff is in worse shape, down two starters and three relievers. But the Dodgers realize that nobody is going to care about their excuses if things start to go sideways because their front office has been talking about the team's depth for months and nobody feels sorry for the rich teams anyway," writes Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
The Reds won't feel bad if the Dodgers approach them with a generous package deal that makes sense for both sides before July 31.
