The Los Angeles Dodgers are having a typical Los Angeles Dodgers offseason, but there could always be another big move lurking around the corner.
After winning the World Series, the Dodgers wasted no time signing Blake Snell, Blake Treinen, and Teoscar Hernández. Even within the last four days, the Dodgers signed Korean utility man Hyeseong Kim to a three-year contract, then offloaded Gavin Lux in a trade to the Cincinnati Reds.
If there’s one remaining spot for the Dodgers to improve, though, it could be center field. Tommy Edman projects as the Opening Day starter at the position, but he was the Dodgers’ shortstop during the postseason.
Drew VonScio of Newsweek recently proposed a blockbuster trade that would see the Dodgers upgrade the center field position. The target? Chicago White Sox 2023 All-Star Luis Robert Jr.
In exchange, VonScio pitched left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski and catcher Diego Cartaya, who was recently designated for assignment, as the return for Chicago.
“There aren’t many strong options available in free agency for center field, but the Dodgers have options on the trade market,” VonScio wrote. “Acquiring Luis Robert Jr. would bring them one step closer to repeating as World Series champions.”
“Both (Wrobleski and Cartaya) would get great opportunities to consistently play in the big leagues with the White Sox while the Dodgers would receive a high-level center fielder.”
Robert, who is entering the last year of a six-year, $50 million extension with the White Sox, had a .657 OPS in his disappointing 2024 campaign. But the year before, he put up 38 home runs and an .857 OPS, while taking home Silver Slugger honors in the American League.
The Dodgers would also have club options for the 2026 and 2027 seasons with Robert, if they happened to acquire him. Betting on a bounceback from a player moving from the worst team to the best team in baseball definitely isn’t the worst bet, either.