The Los Angeles Dodgers already boast the most star-studded roster in baseball - and now, they might just have the most loaded farm system to match. That’s a scary combination for the rest of the league.
But as any front office will tell you, prospects are only as valuable as what you do with them. And for the Dodgers, the time might be now to turn that minor league depth into another major league ace.
One potential target? Houston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown - a breakout arm who just finished third in Cy Young voting after a stellar 2025 campaign.
The proposal floating around: a trade package centered on Roki Sasaki, the electric 24-year-old righty, plus other top prospects, in exchange for Brown. And while this kind of blockbuster isn’t typical between two contending powerhouses, it’s not entirely out of the question.
Let’s break it down.
Why the Dodgers Would Even Consider Moving Sasaki
Roki Sasaki is no ordinary prospect. He’s got ace-level stuff, multiple years of team control, and the kind of upside that front offices dream about. But when you’re the Dodgers - a team that’s already built to win now and has shown no hesitation in spending at the top of the market - you can afford to part with even elite talent if it helps extend your championship window.
That’s the luxury of having both a top-tier MLB roster and a deep farm system. The Dodgers are uniquely positioned to make a move that other teams might balk at. Trading Sasaki and a couple other top-10 prospects wouldn’t gut their future - it would just be another calculated swing at sustained dominance.
Why the Astros Might Listen
On paper, Houston has no reason to shop Hunter Brown. He’s 25, just entering arbitration, and coming off a season where he went 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA, 206 strikeouts, and a 1.025 WHIP across 185 innings.
He made his first All-Star team and firmly established himself as a frontline starter. That’s not the kind of arm you typically move - especially when he’s still under team control.
But Houston has shown a willingness to make bold, forward-looking moves before. The Kyle Tucker trade chatter last year was a signal: if the price is right, they’ll consider dealing stars before they hit free agency. If Sasaki - with his years of control and frontline potential - is the centerpiece, that might be enough to at least get the Astros to the table.
And from their perspective, Sasaki could slide right into Brown’s spot in the rotation and grow into a long-term ace. It’s not a step back - it’s a reshuffling of assets with an eye toward both the present and the future.
Would It Actually Happen?
This kind of deal would be a blockbuster in every sense. Two premier organizations.
Two high-end arms with years of control. And a whole lot of risk and reward on both sides.
But here’s the thing: the Dodgers don’t just dream big - they act big. Whether it’s trading for Mookie Betts, signing Shohei Ohtani, or building the deepest farm in the league, they’ve made a habit of staying aggressive. If they believe Hunter Brown is the missing piece to another World Series run, they’ve got the chips to make it happen.
And while Houston may not be actively shopping Brown, they’re not strangers to tough decisions. If they see a chance to retool without taking a step back, they’ll at least pick up the phone.
One thing’s for sure: the Dodgers aren’t done. They never are.