The MLB is a week away from the trade deadline and two big deals have already been made. The Los Angeles Dodgers remain perhaps the top team to watch before July 31 because of their need for starting pitching and unwillingness to move two prospects.
One thing's for sure - the Dodgers will not be trading top prospects Corey Seager and Julio Urias. That's not even subject to trade rumors.
Dodgers' general manager Farhan Zaidi told EPSN Insider Jim Bowden earlier this week that he won't include Urias in a deal for Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto. It's also pretty clear the team will not be moving the MLB's top prospect in Seager, especially since incumbent shortstop Jimmy Rollins will be a free agent after the season.
So can the Dodgers still land a top starter (or two) before the trade deadline without giving up their top talent?
"The Dodgers have made it clear they're not going to move Seager or Urias," ESPN Insider Keith Law said. "The problem they have then is if they want to go get a top end starter, it's hard for them to put together a package with what remains in the system. [Jose] De Leon and [Grant] Holmes are the only other impact prospects in the system.
"I think it's much more likely that, when the Dodgers do trade - they might trade Holmes, [Alex] Verdugo or one of their lesser prospects - they'll go for more mid-rotation guys or back-end guys just to provide bulk into the rotation."
But don't the Dodgers need stability in their rotation beyond the 2015 season because there's a good chance Zack Greinke opts out of his contract? Cole Hamels is signed through 2018 and has an option for 2019 while the Dodgers would get the first crack at re-signing any of the other top impending free agents if they were to acquire them.
Here's Law's logic:
"The Dodgers already have an ace and a number two starter, so they don't need to go after a Johnny Cueto or a David Price (if he should become available). They can always sign one of those guys in the offseason and not give up any of their prospects."
That's a good point, but this current trade market is littered with top starters such as Cueto, Price, Hamels, Jeff Samardzija and Yovani Gallardo as well as Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister (if the Washington Nationals decide to trade one of them before the deadline).
This means the Dodgers would be looking at second-tier guys such as Dan Haren (who they traded in the offseason and absorbed all of his salary), Mike Leake, Mat Latos, Aaron Harang, Ian Kennedy, Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza. If that's their plan, they'll have slim pickings if they're seriously looking to make a run at the World Series.
However, it's definitely a possibility because the asking price for the top starters is high and it's unlikely to change. If that's the case, look for them to make a run at Leake, who is 8-5 with a 3.78 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 20 starts this season. The right-hander is 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA in four starts this month against the Brewers, Marlins, Indians and Cubs.
But we still can't rule out Zaidi and Andrew Friedman going after a big name. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports released his latest edition of Inside Baseball and notes the Dodgers are indeed in the market for some of the top pitchers that might be available.
"Price, as expected, now is believed to head the Dodgers' pitching wish list. Beyond that he's one of the best out there, the Dodgers tried for him last summer and one Dodgers person mentioned 'the connection,' meaning Andrew Friedman, baseball president, and his longstanding relationship with Price ... Hamels and Cueto are still on their list, and that's important because there's no guarantee Price is traded."
There's a week until the non-waiver trade deadline and the Dodgers will be under a microscope until then.
