Dodgers are unlikely to acquire Nolan Arenado

Around the 2023 trade deadline, the Dodgers expressed interest in acquiring St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, but a deal never materialized.

The Dodgers actually chose a Cardinal, this time Tommy Edman, in 2024 around the trade deadline, and let’s just say the Dodgers got the better end of the trade (and then some).

The Cardinals face some difficult decisions regarding the future of their team this offseason. Former MVP Paul Goldschmidt is currently a free agent after a poor 2024 season and the team is not placing any value on a potential reunion. On Monday, baseball team president John Mozeliak announced that the team intended to trade Arenado.

The Dodgers were considered a team that could be in the mix for the Southern California native and El Toro High School graduate, but team general manager Brandon Gomes stated that the Dodgers are holding on to third baseman Max Muncy for the 2025 season and Will Shoot rejects the idea of ​​Arenado donning Dodger blue, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.

“(Muncy) will play third base for us,” Gomes said. “He is such a big part of our work and has been an integral part. So yeah, Max plays third base.”

Arenado has expressed interest in playing first base for a future suitor, but it would be foolish for the Dodgers to move from reigning World Series MVP Freddie Freeman to a player with virtually no experience at the position.

The 33-year-old is coming off his worst full season since his rookie season, in which he slashed just .272/.325/.394 with 16 homers, 71 RBI and a 102 wRC+.

Left

According to ESPN’s Alden González, the Dodgers and free agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández have been in talks about a reunion. However, the two teams were unable to close the gap in contract negotiations. After missing out on the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Red Sox, Yankees and Blue Jays are reportedly all in on Hernández.

Roki Sasaki has officially been signed to an MLB team for the offseason, but his agent, Joel Wolfe of Wasserman Media Group, indicated that his client was not too familiar with the teams interested in signing him.

The Dodgers have been linked to the Japanese pitching phenom all season, and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is making signing Sasaki his top priority, according to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times.

“He’s someone who is obviously a top priority for us,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “We will do what we can and know that there are many other teams that will do exactly the same thing.”

Peter Abraham of the Boston Globe reports that the Red Sox are in the market for a top starting reliever and have most recently expressed interest in Walker Buehler.

Sources have said they also have interest in Walker Buehler, who may no longer have a spot with the Dodgers after nine seasons in the organization.

The Cleveland Guardians announced Tuesday that former major league outfielder Rocky Colavito has died at the age of 91.

Colavito spent the majority of his career with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers, but played 40 games for the Dodgers in the final season of his career. Colavito finished his career with nine All-Star appearances and 374 home runs.