The Los Angeles Dodgers, by all accounts, will be in the market for an outfielder, either in the trade market or through free agency.
The Dodgers won the World Series without a quality outfield platoon, especially defensively, as they relied on utility players rather than last year’s big-money signing, left fielder Michael Conforto.
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Conforto signed a one-year, $17 million deal with the Dodgers, and the hope was that he would become a quality middle-of-the-order bat in a star-studded, top-heavy lineup.
He ended up being a total bust for the Dodgers, failing to make the postseason roster as he hit terribly, while lacking fielding range or base-running value to make up for it.
According to the latest reports, Los Angeles would prefer to explore the trade market rather than enter a bidding war to avoid committing too much long-term money on the books.
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There are a good number of outfielders who are on the trade block or could be dealt. The Boston Red Sox have a ton of outfield depth, and they have holes at other positions, making them a likely seller of an outfielder.
One of them, according to Jason Fray of Dodgers Nation, stands out as a higher-end option that the Dodgers could explore: Wilyer Abreu.
“The Venezuelan right fielder is one of the best defenders in the sport. He’s won back-to-back Gold Gloves for the Red Sox and is just about hit his prime as a player. The 26-year-old is still somewhat underrated, with his teammate Duran garnering more in the way of attention and public trade talks,” Fray wrote.
“However, make no mistake about it, he’d be a perfect fit with the Dodgers. An Abreu acquisition would strengthen the outfield defense immensely, and it would smartly pave the way for Teoscar Hernandez to play left field.
“Abreu is under team control until 2030, by which time he’ll only be hitting his 30th birthday. Los Angeles would love to land an elite defender on a team-friendly contract throughout the player’s prime years.”
The Dodgers have been stingy with their prospects, opting to keep their youth pipeline going rather than making a set of win-now deals that sacrifice their future.
A trade for Abreu, however, could address a significant weakness, and his age would make a prospect package easier to stomach, since it has an eye on the future.
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