Dodgers Predicted to Trade Young Starter for $8 Million Slugger

The Dodgers trade rumors are heating up as the MLB trade deadline approaches, and while it is possible they could make a major trade for a star rotation piece—Garrett Crochet and Tarik Skubal are on the list—there are reports that they will also pursue and outfielder. One such report, from MLB.com, cites a source saying that L.A. is no doubt, “in” on the possibility of acquiring Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena.

The cost, at least on the first ask, would be the team’s current starter and the guy they’re hoping to replace for their stretch run—Andy Pages, whom the Dodgers signed as a teenage Cuban defector in 2017 for the relatively low price of $300,000.

A backup possibility would be outfielder James Outman, who hit 23 homers as a starter last season. But if the Rays can drum up interest in Arozarena, Pages could be gone.

That’s the notion from former MLB GM Jim Bowden, writing in The Athletic. He noted, in an answer to a mailbag question about a Dodgers-Rays swap:

“The Rays likely would ask for outfielder Andy Pages back first. If the Dodgers turned them down, I think their next ask would be James Outman with the idea of getting a major-league-ready outfielder with minimal service time.”

Dodgers Trade Rumors: Randy Arozarena Has Struggled This Season

It would be understandable that the Dodgers would hesitate to give up Pages for Arozarena, because it so happens that the trade deadline arrives as Arozarena is mired in the worst season of his MLB career, batting just .209. He has also not played much center field, which is the reason Pages has mostly kept his spot in the lineup. The Dodgers do not have many options in center.

Outman is their other choice, but he’s struggled worse than Pages or Arozarena this year, batting just .153 in 45 games.