The trade deadline is upon us, so this is an opportune time to prophesize which prospects the Dodgers might be willing to let go of, if the right opportunity arises.
I would list three players as untouchables: Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Eduardo Quintero. Unless Elly De La Cruz is available, these guys aren’t going anywhere. Twenty-year-old five-toolers don’t grow on trees.
Alex Freeland: He’s the third-ranked Dodger prospect (MLB Pipeline), he’s having a decent season in Triple-A, and he’s probably ready for the majors right now. It’s a bit of a stretch to see Freeland as an everyday player on the Dodgers. He would have value to a team looking for a high-floor infield prospect with upside.
Hunter Feduccia and Ryan Ward: these two fall under the category of “aging out fast and deserve a chance at the majors.” Their trade value is negligible. There is no real motivation to trade them other than being humanistic to these players who are probably better than many drawing major league salaries. Feduccia is 28 years old, Ward is 27. Feduccia’s situation is complicated by being the best depth catcher in the Dodgers organization right now, should Will Smith or Dalton Rushing become unavailable.
Edgardo Henriquez: he is the kind of prospect who can be the primary chip for an established reliever on an expiring contract.
Jaron Elkins: I’d call him the highest value chip on this list. He actually fits onto the five-tool-20-year-olds-that don’t grow on trees list, but the Dodgers are growing a forest of them, so maybe Elkins, or possibly Mike Sirota (doubt it), could be moved in a package for someone worthwhile.
Kendall George: Someone may see him as a Mickey Rivers type and like him in a package. The Dodgers have too many better outfield prospects to prioritize him.
Can be had for the right player: Nick Frasso, Maddux Bruns, Peter Heubeck, Payton Martin, Eriq Swan
Shouldn’t be going anywhere: Jackson Ferris, River Ryan, Christian Zazueta, Sean Linan, Patrick Copen
Which of the lists these pitchers fell on was based on a deep analysis of the metrics my personal preferences. But since Andrew Friedman and I think exactly alike, it’s pretty much set in stone.