Cody Snavely
The Dodgers begin their offseason with the GM meetings, which took place earlier this week, and the rumor mill has started to turn. According to a friend of Carne Asada, MLB.com’s Juan Toribio, the Dodgers will watch the trade market this winter on potential all-star shortstops.
Gomes said shortstop Gavin Lux is continuing to progress after suffering a torn ACL and LCL, as well as a right hamstring tear. Lux has been doing drills and, if healthy, could be the team’s starting shortstop in 2024. The Dodgers, however, will continue to monitor the trade market for a shortstop, mainly Milwaukee’s Willy Adames and Toronto’s Bo Bichette.
Juan Toribio via MLB.com
The Dodgers were finally giving star prospect Gavin Lux the shot to win the job last spring training with Corey Seager and Trea Turner offically gone. But after a gruesome knee injury that ended his season, that idea seems to be put in doubt.
Do the Dodgers have faith in Lux?
Before we get into the severity of his career-altering injury, Gavin Lux, in his short time, has not yet lived up to the hype he had in the Dodgers farm system. Part of this was the lack of playing time due to his position at SS being blocked by two all-star players from 2019-2022. The Dodgers would shift Lux to various positions, such as LF and 2nd base, where he spent most of the 2022 season. In his short career, Lux has accumulated a WAR at 5.2 with a slash line of .253/.329/.712 and an OPS+ just under the league average at 94.
However, the Dodgers did not seem to lose faith last spring as they were ready for him to take the reigns at the position until he was hurt. Now recovering from a torn ACL and LCL, Lux will have to “win” the starting role yet again unless the team does not feel confident in either his health or performance. But with names such as Willy Adames and Bo Bichette being mentioned so early, I question how confident the team is.
Does a trade for a shortstop make sense?
The Dodgers, before spring last year, were not only interested in the trade market for a shortstop but also in free agency, being linked to Trea Turner and Carlos Correa. However, as we all know, nothing came to fruition, and the Dodgers let Lux get his shot. However, now the two names mentioned are on teams at a crossroads regarding contention in 2024.
For Willy Adames, the connection to LA continues from last season, as throughout the winter, the Dodgers were linked to the former Tampa Bay Ray. The Brewers elected to keep him and other big names and contend for 2023. However, the Brewers have taken a beating over the last few weeks with Manager Craig Counsell leaving for the rival Cubs and Brandon Woodruff out all next season due to shoulder surgery. It does not look like the Brewers will be buyers as they begin rebuilding. Adames to the Dodgers might be a topic that often comes up this winter, especially since the team is also interested in Brewers ace Corbin Burnes.
As for Bo Bichette, that seems more unlikely, as the Blue Jays made the Postseason three straight seasons with that core of players remaining. However, after three consecutive years of Wild Card exits, the Blue Jays may begin to retool their roster with names like Bichette and Vlad Jr. being thrown around.
Conclusion
The Dodgers will do their due diligence this winter, and if they do not believe Lux is prepared or healthy enough by February, perhaps they will pivot to the trade market for a top-end shortstop. While I would love for Lux to finally get his chance, there are better options out there, and the team sounds ready to make significant upgrades.
