Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — When the Dodgers acquired Manuel Margot as the add-on in the deal with the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, the scuttlebutt around the league was that the Dodgers REALLY wanted to get Randy Arozarena, and sort of begrudingly accepted Margot to make the deal happen. So then, it’s not that shocking that Margot will be shipped out as Spring Training has barely gotten underway. Indeed, the right-handed outfielder has been dealt to the Minnesota Twins in a deal widely reported on Monday morning.
In exchange for Margot, the Twins have sent slick fielding prospect Noah Miller, a former first round draft pick. Miller, the No. 36 overall pick in the 2021 Draft, was ranked No. 23 on MLB Pipeline’s latest ranking of Minnesota’s top 30 prospects. He is the younger brother of Brewers utility man Owen Miller. He owns a .644 OPS with 12 homers and 36 steals in 250 Minor League games, topping out at High-A last year.
This makes sense on a lot of levels. With Margot AND Teoscar Hernandez as offseason additions, the Dodgers would struggle to give utilityman Chris Taylor enough playing time in 2024. With him off the roster, Taylor immediately moves toward the top of the left field depth chart. Taylor now can assume his role of being the Dodgers’ swiss army knife and get the AB’s that he’ll need if he wants to bounce back to his All-Star form.
Don’t look for Miller to make a huge impact on the roster in 2024. With Mookie at second, Gavin Lux back on the team and Miguel Rojas hoping to break camp with a roster spot, there won’t be much in the infield for Miller anytime soon. But this gives Dave Roberts one less headache to worry about when the season begins.
