Dodgers commerce rumors: Numerous proposals to get Crimson Sox RHP Tanner Houck

In sensible phrases, we’re within the downtime of the offseason.

It’s not fairly time for pitchers and catchers to report. Many of the sizzling range motion has been accomplished. Other than taking far too lengthy to do the proper factor, the Dodgers have largely nibbled on the bountiful harvest of the 2022 offseason.

I imply at this charge, Carlos Correa may find yourself as a Dod—oh, wait he re-signed with Minnesota. All that drama simply to finish up again the place he began. Nicely, because the mantra for this coming yr of journey goes…irrespective of the place you go, #ThereYouAre.

So right here I’m planning out the yr, once I discover chatter on the positioning.

Tanner Houck is allegedly, apparently accessible in commerce and the Dodgers’ could be nicely served to go get him. I believe that this participant can’t be actual as a result of that identify appears like a default AI-generated participant from MLB: The Present or is what occurs when one randomly grabs a bunch of Scrabble tiles and expects the outcome to be a correct noun.

However the chatter did lead me to ask a single query.

Who’s Tanner Houck?

Nicely, let’s verify the tape from final yr; Houck can’t be that spectacular proper?

Oh my — that slider.

Houck appeared in 32 video games in 2022, going 5-4 with a 3.15 ERA. He had 4 begins and eight saves in 60 innings of labor. He struck out 56 and walked 22. These will not be world-shattering statistics however they hardly learn like a bust both.

And he’s beneath workforce management till 2025 and gained’t enter free company till 2028?!? And the Crimson Sox are open to commerce him?!?

Usually, one would assume {that a} workforce would construct round an arm like Houck’s. However who can inform what’s going on in Boston proper now, contemplating that the Crimson Sox simply designated Matt Barnes for project.

Even MLB Commerce Rumors expressed skepticism {that a} Houck commerce could be anticipated and even possible at the moment.

Different choices [for available controllable starting pitching] are few and much between, although Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com writes that the Crimson Sox have obtained “important” commerce curiosity in righty Tanner Houck as groups discover alternate options to Miami’s beginning pitching glut.

That’s to not say {that a} deal of Houck is anticipated or possible. Houck doesn’t have a particular position on Boston’s beginning workers because of the presence of Chris Sale, Corey Kluber, James Paxton, Garrett Whitlock, Nick Pivetta and Brayan Bello, however the damage threat amongst that group implies that Houck can’t be expressly dominated out of the working, both. Sale has pitched simply 48 1/3 innings over the previous two seasons, and Paxton has simply 21 2/3 frames throughout the previous three MLB seasons mixed. Kluber rebounded with 164 innings in 2022 however previous to that had thrown simply 116 2/3 innings over a three-year interval himself.

Furthermore, the 26-year-old Houck may but discover himself with a pivotal position in Boston’s bullpen after impressing as a reliever in 2022.

Once more, Houck looks as if a proto-Julio Urías-before-2020-swingman sort in you could plug him in wherever as he has not caught anyplace — but — and appears to be efficient each time he is available in.

Whereas the Dodgers rotation feels fairly set with Urías/Clayton Kershaw/Tony Gonsolin/Dustin Might/Noah Syndergaard and Ryan Pepiot, Michael Grove, Bobby Miller, and Gavin Stone ready within the wings. However, it will possible behoove the Dodgers to get one other one to 2 arms for depth functions within the rotation.

So assuming the Dodgers may get the Crimson Sox to play ball, what wouldn’t it take to get Houck? I suggest some concepts with Baseball Commerce Values (BVT).

The straight-up commerce

Alright, you already know the drill, so let’s get proper to it. I suggest buying and selling Will Smith —

Wait, the place are you going? I used to be kidding! I don’t really wish to commerce Will Smith (interval) and particularly on this case. But when one have been to have interaction in a hypothetical…

Like attempting to pay for a sweet bar with a $100 invoice, buying and selling Smith for Houck is unnecessary on this situation or simply about any situation going ahead based mostly on the present composition of the Dodgers’ roster. However in need of promoting excessive on Alex Vesia (19.2 per BVT) or Evan Phillips (21.6), there’s a one-to-one commerce that would feasibly work, though it will damage.

Courtesy of BaseballTradeValues.com

Pages was added to the 40-man roster in November, and was rated the Ninetieth-best prospect within the league by Baseball Prospectus, and ranked as a top-10 prospect within the Dodgers’ system by BP, Baseball America, and FanGraphs. Shifting him would damage as a fan. However this proposal feels truthful in that each groups could be giving up a budding participant who has loads of workforce management. Once more, it will appear unlikely that both aspect would agree, however in a vacuum, I can see the logic for the transfer.

However what a few transfer involving a rising prospect who’s presently blocked on the roster?

The Busch situation

Oh, Michael Busch, everybody apparently loves your bat and tries to speak up any weak point in your glove.

Nevertheless, Busch’s expertise are nonetheless adequate to be ranked because the second-best second base prospect within the majors per MLB Pipeline. In that very same article, Busch was projected as a possible Rookie of the Yr candidate amongst the highest second baseman prospects however that “he must discover at-bats on a crowded Dodgers roster that additionally consists of gifted rookies Miguel Vargas and James Outman.”

I’ve been down on Busch as far as a prospect, based mostly on his lack of a pure place and being blocked at first base for the subsequent few seasons by one Freddie Freeman. However seeing Busch mature with the bat is giving me pause at making the subsequent proposal.

Courtesy of BaseballTradeValues.com

In some methods, if a commerce have been to occur, it will possible be one thing like this one. Per MLB Commerce Rumors, “main league expertise” would should be heading again to Boston in any commerce for Houck. This assertion feels very true given the truth that Trevor Story’s 2023 is now in jeopardy as a consequence of damage.

I am keen on Enrique Hernández as a lot because the individual, however counting on him to be the on a regular basis shortstop looks like a Plan B or Plan C situation. Nevertheless, Busch at second, and Hernández at SS feels a bit extra stable within the brief time period. But when the Dodgers may doubtlessly leverage Boston’s quick want for center infield assist, perhaps the Dodgers can get themselves a lottery ticket.

Courtesy of BaseballTradeValues.com

Who’s Cutter Coffey, you ask? Nicely, he’s a farmhand out of Bakersfield that the Crimson Sox chosen final yr. A center infielder in Rookie Ball, who suits the textbook definition of a “high-risk, high-reward” prospect. His hit instrument thus far is inconsistent however he has above-average energy and common pace. Presently, he performs shortstop however will possible find yourself at third base in the long run.

Because the Dodgers’ farm system is presently constituted, a commerce for Houck could be a bit too inventive with the present personnel with out risking an overpay or giving up on gamers who may be capable to assist the Dodgers this yr.

However buried on this evaluation is a lede that we’d be capable to get behind; a means for the Dodgers to have some cake and eat it too.

Or how I discovered to accept Matt Barnes

Picture by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Crimson Sox/Getty Photographs

Earlier this offseason, I proffered the concept of the Dodgers signing somebody like Sean Manaea as a main candidate for somebody that Mark Prior can work his magic on. For sure, Manaea signed with the Giants for 2 seasons and there was a lot rejoicing round these elements because the homerun parade (in opposition to him) will in all probability proceed.

However as alluded to earlier, the Crimson Sox reduce bait on their then-longest-tenured participant Matt Barnes, who was nonetheless owed $7.5 million in his remaining contract yr of 2023, on Tuesday. The Crimson Sox have seven days to make a commerce. In any other case, Barnes can be a free agent who may be signed for the key league minimal with Boston making up the distinction.

Whereas nobody can mistake Barnes for Houck, as Barnes had a reasonably awful 2022, the person was an All-Star in 2021. Appears to cause that if Mark Prior may someway faucet Syndergaard’s full potential, it will not be such a stretch to ponder if Prior may resurrect Barnes’ profession given the chance.

And if Barnes is washed up, nicely, the Dodgers can say they tried and maintain on to Michael Busch.

Agree? Disagree? Have concepts of your individual? Then share them within the feedback! As I often say, nobody is technically incorrect about any potential commerce till confirmed in any other case…however of us are likely to get pleasure from this train.

Relying on how the remainder of the offseason goes, I could give you one other modest proposal to assist go the time and whet our urge for food for spring coaching.