The Dodgers have suddenly found their footing again, and that has sparked a fresh round of roster chatter about what comes next for a team that looks a lot like last year’s version at this point in the calendar.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Los Angeles looked flat after getting swept by the Atlanta Braves. Since then, though, the club has turned the page and started stacking wins the way it did during last season’s late push. Jack Harris of the California Post pointed out that this kind of surge feels familiar for the Dodgers.
“It was at almost this exact point last season when the Dodgers made a similar shift following a late-summer slump. On Sept. 6, they were walked off for a second-straight night by the Baltimore Orioles.
They were in a dogfight in the NL West after a 22-32 slump. From there, though, they closed the regular season on a 15-5 tear, locked up the NL West crown in the final week of the regular season, and proceeded to win nine of their first 10 playoff games en route to a second-consecutive title,” California Post’s Jack Harris wrote.
That backdrop has also brought Mookie Betts back into the conversation. Betts has been hot lately, and while he is handling shortstop now, there is a belief he could shift back to second base next season or even sooner because of his age.
Against that backdrop, Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain floated a huge idea: trade top prospect Josue De Paula, along with others, for Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
“Mookie has done an incredible job holding it down at shortstop these past few years. He'll be 34 next season, and it might be time to move him back to second base sooner than later. I'd trade the farm including Josue De Paula for Elly De La Cruz (3 arb years left),” McKain wrote.
It would be a massive swing, but De La Cruz brings the kind of talent that makes a move like that easy to understand. He offers a plus bat from both sides of the plate, with defense listed as the only real concern.
De La Cruz also made history with a throw on Tuesday, another reminder of just how much he can impact a game. The two-time All-Star has the kind of all-around skill set that would fit the Dodgers’ idea of a shortstop of the future, and he comes with plenty of team control.
So far in his career, De La Cruz has made $4.5 million. In Los Angeles, the thought is that his game could reach another level playing alongside some of the best players the sport has ever seen.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Massive Tarik Skubal Decision They Can't Ignore
Tarik Skubal is already forcing the Dodgers to think beyond the stretch run, because his arrival at the deadline brought instant impact and an even bigger question about what comes next. ESPNs Jeff Passan has projected that a pitcher his age could approach a free-agent deal worth nearly $500 million, a figure that would reset expectations for anyone on the mound and put the Dodgers in a familiar but uncomfortable position: decide whether elite production is worth historic money.
For a team that has never shied from big swings, this is still a different kind of gamble. Committing that kind of contract to a pitcher in his 30s would carry obvious risk, especially for a club that has to keep one eye on its long-term financial flexibility, but letting a front-line arm walk after paying the deadline price would sting in its own way. The Dodgers do not have to answer it today, but the closer Skubal gets to free agency, the harder it gets to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Have A Shohei Ohtani Problem Fans Wont Ignore
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For the Dodgers, the bigger concern may be how this reached the point it did. Dave Roberts and front office officials have acknowledged there were communication challenges between Ohtani and the team about his health, and the decision-making around when he should play has not been simple. In a season where every move around Ohtani draws attention, the unanswered question now is how smoothly the club can manage him going forward. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Are Finally Turning To A Top Prospect For Answers
The Dodgers are giving Josue de Paula a fast track to the majors, promoting the outfielder from Double-A ahead of their series against the Marlins. It is the kind of move that says plenty about where a team stands in the season, and about how much confidence it has in a young player who has forced the issue with strong offensive production in the minors this year.
De Paula arrives with the reputation of a highly ranked prospect and the kind of upside the Dodgers have long been willing to bet on. He is expected to fit into the outfield mix and could also see time at designated hitter, giving Los Angeles another look at a bat it believes may be ready for a bigger stage. The only real question now is how quickly the transition comes together once he gets his first extended run. [Read more 🡒]