Possible Trade Partners for Dozier

[caninatl04]

While awaiting late starting games, I revisited the "idea" of trading Brian Dozier.  I began by asking which teams were not out of contention and had a 2B "significantly" poorer than Dozier.

 

That led me to three teams: Bosox, Indians and Rangers.  I found no NL teams that met both criteria.  I immediately excluded in-division Cleveland.  I then looked at the Bosox's cupboard of potential prospects and found it pretty much bare.

 

That left the Rangers.  And, lo and behold, they have three top-tier left-handed starting pitching prospects:

 

Y. Mendez (#2)

B. Martin (#5), and

C. Ragans (#8)

 

Surely, they could part with one of three.  Just sayin'

[jorgenswest]

Are you basing poorer solely on the 2017 sample or your perceived skill level of the players?

 

I suppose it is possible that the Rangers are ready to give up on a 23 year old 2B with 33 home runs at 22. They would have to be so down on him that they would also trade a top tier pitching prospect.

 

The Indians have Kipnis and Red Sox have Pedroia. They may not be ready to give up on them yet.

[Thrylos]

You did not look at NL West, I suspect

 

All 3 top teams need a second baseman.   Forsythe is hitting .191/.318/.258 for the Dodgers

 

I'd look at the Rockies and D-backs before trade him to the Dodgers.  The Rockies and their young staff might be a good landing spot for Santana as well and they have plenty of MLB-ready arms (Hoffman & Marquez two of them who could be plug into the Twins rotation right away) who are not their headliners this season to make this a package of a deal...

[yarnivek1972]

I don't think the Rangers are likely to trade pitching away. Well, perhaps I should say it would probably be a big mistake. The Rangers rarely have trouble scoring runs. They almost always have bad pitching though.

[DocBauer]

While the fruit hasn't ripened yet on the old prospect tree, it's pretty exciting to look at what the Twins have now, and should have in the near future, for middle infield options.

 

Not including Rosier, Polanco looks to be a keeper. Adrianza, through ST and his rehab stint and his short time with the Twins, has looked good. Escobar is a nice ballplayer. Vielma has potential as a contact/speed glove man off the bench if he never makes it as a starter. And then there is Gordon...enough said there. Oh, and Goodrum shows potential as a super utility guy liked we all hoped DanSan might have been. Remember when the Twins couldn't find anyone to play the middle infield?

 

I just don't think Dozier gets moved if the team is playing well come July. Further, after last off season attempts to possibly move him proved underwhelming, I'm still uncertain of his actual trade value. Does it improve mid season for a team looking for that edge in their contention window? Possibly.

 

I still wonder about keeping him long term with Mauer gone after 2018 and juggling the infield with Sano, who I like a lot at 3B, moving to 1B or Dozier sliding over there. May be crazy, but it's a thought that has crossed my mind.

[Thrylos]

 

 

I still wonder about keeping him long term with Mauer gone after 2018 and juggling the infield with Sano, who I like a lot at 3B, moving to 1B or Dozier sliding over there. May be crazy, but it's a thought that has crossed my mind.

 

Other than blocking prospects who will be ready when Dozier's contract is up, Dozier's arm is too weak to play at 3B (was inadequate at SS, that's why he moved) and he is just too short to play first.  I'd rather see the Twins move them sooner than later, and getting something back in return...

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

You did not look at NL West, I suspect

 

All 3 top teams need a second baseman.   Forsythe is hitting .191/.318/.258 for the Dodgers

 

I'd look at the Rockies and D-backs before trade him to the Dodgers.  The Rockies and their young staff might be a good landing spot for Santana as well and they have plenty of MLB-ready arms (Hoffman & Marquez two of them who could be plug into the Twins rotation right away) who are not their headliners this season to make this a package of a deal...

 

I'd have no problems sticking it back to LAD.  There's some sick irony there if they have to part with more prospects to get Dozier after lowballing the Twins in the first place.

 

Just did a quick look here:

 

Yadier Alvarez - 2.7 years younger then average but not exactly lighting up high A.  ERA is over 5.  He's getting lots of Ks (but less than low A), walking way too many guys, and a bit more prone to the HR.

 

Brock Stewart hasn't seen much action at all this year so far.

 

Kiebert Ruiz is still a guy I like.  He's holding his own in the MWL at 18.  He's 4 years younger than the league. OPS just north of .700, which is good for a C, but even better given his age.  For the record, he's a year younger than Rortvedt and doing much better in the same league.

 

Jordan Sheffield is repeating the MWL, though doing better. He's league average age wise and having a good season. 

 

Walker Buehler is having a very nice season in AA.

 

I wonder if they'd rethink a Stewart, Buehler, Ruiz package for Dozier.  The are 2 games out of first place with two teams in front of them in a much tighter race now than what they were predicting this offseason.

[DaveW]

Alvarez + Stewart for Dozier

[Cory Engelhardt]

 

Alvarez + Stewart for Dozier

 

I feel like I remember a thread about this deal happening at some point in the not too distant past? Anyone else remember anything like this maybe 3-6 months ago?

[Otto von Ballpark]

While Forsythe has scuffled for the Dodgers, he hasn't been their primary 2B this year anyway. Dodgers 2B in total have a 123 wRC+, 2nd in the NL and 5th in MLB, versus 91 for the Twins. Utley has a 96 versus Dozier's 97. Chris Taylor has the second most starts at the position and a 148 wRC+. Enrique Hernandez now has a 100 wRC+ over 3 seasons with the Dodgers in a utility role too.

 

Dozier has been solid so far but has shown his HR binge was exactly that and not a new norm, I am not even sure if he is a great target anymore. If the Dodgers want offense, they might be better off acquiring an outfielder or even a first baseman. Although they have a team non-pitcher 107 wRC+, tied for 3rd in the NL / 5th in MLB, so they may not yet think offense is a major area of need.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, the Ranger just signed Odor to a long-term extension a few months ago, I am pretty sure they are not looking to make a major 2B acquisition quite yet.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Also, Pedroia has been hurt but has a 100 OPS+ after last year's 116 and is set to return this weekend.

 

Kipnis' season numbers are down, but he missed spring training and started late. He has a .859 OPS over the last month or so, I doubt the Indians are worried about the position.

 

Not sure the 2B market has changed all that much in the last few months, likely not in Dozier's favor anyway when you factor in his solid but unspectacular 2017 performance.

[Don Walcott]

You did not look at NL West, I suspect

 

All 3 top teams need a second baseman. Forsythe is hitting .191/.318/.258 for the Dodgers

 

I'd look at the Rockies and D-backs before trade him to the Dodgers. The Rockies and their young staff might be a good landing spot for Santana as well and they have plenty of MLB-ready arms (Hoffman & Marquez two of them who could be plug into the Twins rotation right away) who are not their headliners this season to make this a package of a deal...

Lemahieu just won a batting title last year, and he's a better fielder than Dozier. I don't think there's any chance the Rockies trade for a 2b (or any infielder for that matter).

[mazeville]

 

You did not look at NL West, I suspect

 

All 3 top teams need a second baseman.   Forsythe is hitting .191/.318/.258 for the Dodgers

 

I'd look at the Rockies and D-backs before trade him to the Dodgers.  The Rockies and their young staff might be a good landing spot for Santana as well and they have plenty of MLB-ready arms (Hoffman & Marquez two of them who could be plug into the Twins rotation right away) who are not their headliners this season to make this a package of a deal...

 

Ha ha ha! Forsythe sucks. That's what they get for not giving up what it takes to get Dozier. 

 

I generally agree that targeting the Rockies in particular would be a good option, and Dozier would fit nicely in that lineup. 

 

I think the Twins are going to slowly but surely slide out of it, and we all know Cleveland will probably take charge of the division sooner or later, which should give the Twins reason to deal. 

[Doomtints]

As we expected before the season began, almost the entire pitching staff is a dumpster fire. How the heck is this team winning games? This team is incredibly lucky, the pitching staff is having their meltdowns all on the same days, resulting in lopsided losses but still a lot of wins. Very strange stuff, but it's inevitable that the wheels will come off.

Unfortunately Dozier has taken the dip that we expected him to take. The Twins can probably still get one pitching prospect for him, I suppose. Even if Dozier goes on his usual mid-to-late season tear, I doubt what the Twins could get in return for him changes that much. Teams know who he is, though I suspect he would probably be great in the playoffs no team is going to bring that up during negotiations.

 

Unfortunately, Polanco is having some rookie struggles, but a move like this would be for next year+ and not this year, so losing Dozier's production would not be a big deal. Losing his personality, I don't know. I would imagine he is a leader in the clubhouse, but like it or not this is going to be Sano's team for years to come.

[Oldgoat_MN]

Had Dozier started 2017 where he left off in 2016 I believe he would be generating some interest. Failing that, he is now a 1.5 year rental. And not nearly as enticing as he was in the off-season (where there wasn't all that much demand).

I like Dozier a lot, but I do not think that there is a market for him.

I suspect that if the Twins had known how Dozier was going to play in April/May they would have made a trade with the Dodgers and De Leon would be on our DL right now.

 

I can't think of a single team that really feels getting Dozier (and his .237/.332/.409 (.741) slash line) would move the needle enough to surrender a player who would make a difference for the Twins, now or in the future.

[laloesch]

 

While the fruit hasn't ripened yet on the old prospect tree, it's pretty exciting to look at what the Twins have now, and should have in the near future, for middle infield options.

Not including Rosier, Polanco looks to be a keeper. Adrianza, through ST and his rehab stint and his short time with the Twins, has looked good. Escobar is a nice ballplayer. Vielma has potential as a contact/speed glove man off the bench if he never makes it as a starter. And then there is Gordon...enough said there. Oh, and Goodrum shows potential as a super utility guy liked we all hoped DanSan might have been. Remember when the Twins couldn't find anyone to play the middle infield?

I just don't think Dozier gets moved if the team is playing well come July. Further, after last off season attempts to possibly move him proved underwhelming, I'm still uncertain of his actual trade value. Does it improve mid season for a team looking for that edge in their contention window? Possibly.

I still wonder about keeping him long term with Mauer gone after 2018 and juggling the infield with Sano, who I like a lot at 3B, moving to 1B or Dozier sliding over there. May be crazy, but it's a thought that has crossed my mind.

 

I may be in the minority here, but i'm beginning to think Mauer re-signs with the team after 2018 but at a much reduced contract.  It's not like the team has been actively fielding future replacements at 1B unless the plan is to slide Sano over there and grab another 3B.

[zenser]

Do the Rockies make sense?  They do have LeMahieu.  He is a nice two hole hitter who gets on base and won a batting title and a gold glove.

[laloesch]

 

I'd have no problems sticking it back to LAD.  There's some sick irony there if they have to part with more prospects to get Dozier after lowballing the Twins in the first place.

 

Just did a quick look here:

 

Yadier Alvarez - 2.7 years younger then average but not exactly lighting up high A.  ERA is over 5.  He's getting lots of Ks (but less than low A), walking way too many guys, and a bit more prone to the HR.

 

Brock Stewart hasn't seen much action at all this year so far.

 

Kiebert Ruiz is still a guy I like.  He's holding his own in the MWL at 18.  He's 4 years younger than the league. OPS just north of .700, which is good for a C, but even better given his age.  For the record, he's a year younger than Rortvedt and doing much better in the same league.

 

Jordan Sheffield is repeating the MWL, though doing better. He's league average age wise and having a good season. 

 

Walker Buehler is having a very nice season in AA.

 

I wonder if they'd rethink a Stewart, Buehler, Ruiz package for Dozier.  The are 2 games out of first place with two teams in front of them in a much tighter race now than what they were predicting this offseason.

 

As crazy as this sounds i would approach them again and see if they are REALLY willing to talk this time.  If not oh well.

[Doomtints]

 

Do the Rockies make sense?  

 

This question gets asked a lot. Poor Rockies.  

[Vanimal46]

Concur with Oldgoat. Nothing has changed in the 2B market since last winter. Dozier is falling back to Earth with his .741 OPS. The Twins may have to start looking at Polanco and Gordon as trade bait in order to acquire top-tier pitching prospects.  

[Doomtints]

 

Concur with Oldgoat. Nothing has changed in the 2B market since last winter. Dozier is falling back to Earth with his .741 OPS. The Twins may have to start looking at Polanco and Gordon as trade bait in order to acquire top-tier pitching prospects.  

 

That's terrible. They would be better off going free agent shopping in the offseason.

[Lonestar]

The Cubs could be in the market given Addison Russell's struggles.  They could move Baez to SS and use Zobrist to LF or Super Utility.  Their picture (Russell, Schwarber, and Happ) will clarify before the trade deadline. 

[Vanimal46]

 

That's terrible. They would be better off going free agent shopping in the offseason.

 

Anyone catching your eye on this list? It's not a great class of free agents. 

[Thrylos]

 

 

 

 

 

Brock Stewart hasn't seen much action at all this year so far.

 

60-day DL, right shoulder tendonitis, might return later this month...

 

As far as the Dodgers go, at this point I wouldn't mind a return like this:

One of Walker Buehler or Mitchell White + Shea Spitzbarth + one of DJ Peters or Luke Raley

[Thrylos]

 

 

Anyone catching your eye on this list? It's not a great class of free agents. 

 

Michael Pineda

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

The Cubs could be in the market given Addison Russell's struggles.  They could move Baez to SS and use Zobrist to LF or Super Utility.  Their picture (Russell, Schwarber, and Happ) will clarify before the trade deadline. 

Interesting idea. And Baez appears to be capable at SS, which is how they'd fit Dozier into the lineup.

However, Zobrist is performing pretty well for the Cubs. Dozier would be an upgrade, but not all that much by any single statistic that catches the eye (or, more correctly, my eye).

[laloesch]

 

Had Dozier started 2017 where he left off in 2016 I believe he would be generating some interest. Failing that, he is now a 1.5 year rental. And not nearly as enticing as he was in the off-season (where there wasn't all that much demand).

I like Dozier a lot, but I do not think that there is a market for him.

I suspect that if the Twins had known how Dozier was going to play in April/May they would have made a trade with the Dodgers and De Leon would be on our DL right now.

 

I can't think of a single team that really feels getting Dozier (and his .237/.332/.409 (.741) slash line) would move the needle enough to surrender a player who would make a difference for the Twins, now or in the future.

 

Interesting.  So there wasn't a market for Dozier last year when he was red hot and there's not a market for him now.  Basically he's un-tradeable all the time.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Interesting.  So there wasn't a market for Dozier last year when he was red hot and there's not a market for him now.  Basically he's un-tradeable all the time.  

It's less about Dozier and more about the second base position around the league, which hasn't really changed in the last 6 months.

[MangLitch]

I think this thread is spot on with the lack of interest. We need to hope for a vacancy to pop up due to injury or just pure panic. 

 

Along with that, we need to hope Dozier goes on a power surge well before the deadline to show that he is just a second half guy. 

 

Then, we still will likely need to pigs to fly and chickens to lay golden eggs to get a deal worth doing. 

 

Looks like we may just need to pencil Dozier in the lineup for a while. Does Gordon have the arm to play 3rd? Not ideal with his lack of prototypical 3rd base power but is it better to put him there and Sano to 1st instead of trading Dozier for a bag of baseballs and a guy that runs a pretty solid hot dog stand?