The Los Angeles Dodgers just made another headline-grabbing move, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal with Kyle Tucker. That’s a staggering $60 million per year for the All-Star outfielder - a number that raised eyebrows around the league. But beyond the eye-popping contract, Tucker’s arrival adds another elite bat to an already stacked Dodgers lineup and sets the stage for some roster reshuffling.
With a full 40-man roster, the Dodgers now need to make space for their newest star. And according to reports, they’re not looking to make a minor move. Instead, they’re exploring trade options for two players: outfielder Ryan Ward and right-hander Bobby Miller.
Let’s start with Ward. The 27-year-old had a monster season in Triple-A, where he was named MVP of the Pacific Coast League.
He slashed .290 with a .937 OPS, crushed 36 home runs, drove in 122 runs, and added 16 steals for good measure. He also racked up 31 doubles and crossed the plate 113 times.
Those are big-time numbers, no doubt. But despite the production, Ward’s path to the big-league roster is now more crowded than ever.
With Tucker joining an outfield group that already includes Teoscar Hernández - who, by all accounts, isn’t going anywhere - Ward becomes the odd man out. The Dodgers simply don’t have a clear role for him moving forward.
And while they could try to sneak him through waivers or stash him in the minors again, the more strategic play is to find a team willing to take a chance on his bat. Given his 2025 performance, there’s likely a market out there for a power-hitting lefty outfielder who’s still relatively young and coming off an MVP season in Triple-A.
Then there’s Bobby Miller. The 26-year-old right-hander was once viewed as a key piece of the Dodgers’ rotation of the future.
And to be fair, he looked the part in 2023, posting a solid 114 ERA+ in his rookie campaign. But the last two seasons haven’t been kind.
Over 37 games (36 starts), Miller has struggled to a 5.44 ERA and a 78 ERA+, falling well short of expectations.
Miller still has the raw stuff - the fastball velocity, the slider bite - but consistency has been elusive. And in a rotation that’s becoming more competitive with the Dodgers always in win-now mode, Miller doesn’t have a guaranteed spot. Trading him now could be a way to get value before his stock drops further.
For the Dodgers, the math is simple: they need to clear a roster spot for Tucker, and both Ward and Miller are logical trade candidates. Ward’s bat could bring back a useful piece from a team looking for offensive upside, while Miller might appeal to a club willing to bet on a bounce-back from a former top prospect.
There’s no guarantee a deal gets done, but the Dodgers are clearly working the phones. And given how aggressive this front office has been all offseason, don’t be surprised if one - or both - of these players are wearing new uniforms by the time Spring Training rolls around.