Carlos Beltran is my only trade target

Phil Gurnee ♦ July 19, 2016 ♦ 1 Comment

As the trade deadline gets closer there is going to be lots of rumors/discussion about who the Dodgers are interested in,  or who they should be interested in, but the only player who I’d like to see them acquire is Carlos Beltran.

The much-needed rotation reinforcements have arrived and unless the Dodgers are set on acquiring Chris Archer or Sonny Gray I don’t see anyone else out there better than what they currently have.  If Clayton Kershaw was going to miss significant time that would change the equation but Clayton will be here sometime this week which should put Norris in the bullpen. Or Ryu. Shortly to be followed by Wood, so that again leaves Ryu or Wood headed to the bullpen. Any new starter without one being subtracted would leave one of Maeda / Kazmir / McCarthy / Wood / Ryu in the bullpen and I don’t see the names being bandied about being any better than those options. Not to mention Jose De Leon ready to help.

For once I like our bullpen. Has the trio of Liberatore / Blanton / Jansen been just as effective as the much more celebrated Betances / Miller / Chapman? Maybe? Granted  Miller would be a nice addition, but given the price I’m not that interested. 2014 heck yes, 2015 again yes. 2016, not so much.  Besides,  I fully expect Urias to be added, and of course, Jose De Leon could bring his big arm to the bullpen.

However the offense needs an upgrade and the only place to upgrade for me is the outfield. Many would prefer LuCroy over Grandal, but not me.  The outfield names being bandied about are Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick. Both are  decent options but not my main option.

Which brings me to my trade target. Carlos Beltran. Not much of an outfielder anymore but I’m pretty sure he can do what Howie Kendrick does in LF. What Carlos can still do is hit, hit with power, hit in the clutch, and hit good pitching. If you acquire Carlos Beltran you strengthen the lineup from top to bottom,  you strengthen your bench by making Howie the super utility player, and you take some pressure off of the kids who have been carrying the offense so far.   And I didn’t even mention how historically awesome Beltran is in October.

I have no idea the asking price of Carlos Beltran. He’s a free agent, so unlike Andrew Miller he’s not part of the future plans for the Yankee’s. The last time Beltran was traded was in 2011 when he was a trade deadline acquisition by the Giants for the steep price at the time of Zach Wheeler which would be equivalent to Jose De Leon. That was five years ago, he’s now 39 years old, and price should be something akin to Brock Stewart but I could be off base.

Whatever the Dodger FO decides to do, it will be interesting. If they can somehow pry Chris Archer or Sonny Gray I shan’t complain, but at the same time,  I do hope they address the outfield situation with someone who will help in October not hinder. If they add a bullpen piece, cool, just not my top priority.