Dodgers Linked to Cy Young Winning Pitcher in Potential Blockbuster Trade
After such a dominant offseason, there is really no telling the true extent that the Los Angeles Dodgers will go to in terms of improving their roster.
Acquiring Cy Young award-winning pitchers, international phenoms, demonstrated veterans, and parting ways with longtime players made it clear that L.A. is not content at the top of the baseball world, and there are more championships to be won.
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When there are reports that a star wants out of their current situation, regardless of contract size or position, all eyes turn to the Dodgers.
MLB insider Jeff Passan reported earlier this month that Sandy Alcantara is raising questions regarding his availability at the trade deadline with the rebuilding Miami Marlins.
A rebuilding team with a Cy Young award winner is practically calling for an aggressive contender to at least make an offer.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer has addressed trade rumors all offseason long, but recently linked the Dodgers to the ace.
“Another ace is the last thing the Dodgers need…for now. When you remember how hard they were hit by injuries last year, their rotation is perhaps vulnerable until proved otherwise.”
Alcantara is owed $17.3 million in 2025 and 2026, plus a $21 million club option for 2027. As L.A. proves time and time again, what may be a financial issue for one ball club is nothing to them.
If 2024 showed the Dodgers anything, it’s that a roster can never have too much depth. Gauging the difficulty of last season’s pitching woes is unfair given the outcome at the end of October, but the kind of pieces L.A. would have to give up to the rebuilding Marlins begs the question if the likely blockbuster package would be worth it.
As the proven leaders of the baseball world, the target on the Dodgers’ back will only grow, but if the right package is there for a talent like Alcantara, there’s more reasons to pull the trigger than to make any changes.
Sho-time in Tokyo: Ohtani, Dodgers to open MLB season vs. Cubs on Tuesday
TOKYO (AP) –The Major League Baseball season kicks off Tuesday night at the Tokyo Dome when Shohei Ohtani and the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers face the Chicago Cubs.
It’s the first of a two-game series and features five Japanese players. Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and rookie Roki Sasaki pitch for the Dodgers while the Cubs have outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-handed pitcher Shota Imanaga.
The two MLB teams have been in Tokyo for several days, playing exhibition games against two Japanese teams — the Hanshin Tigers and Yomiuri Giants.
All four exhibition games had a capacity crowd of roughly 42,000. A similar atmosphere is expected for the two MLB games.
“Everybody’s very aware of the series, that’s evident for sure, more than I feel like it would be America,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “More people are talking about it, absolutely. That’s a great feeling. The players love big events, that’s why we do this, that’s why we love to do it.”
Here are five things to know heading into the MLB opener:
All-Japanese pitching matchup
The first game will feature the first all-Japanese pitching matchup on opening day in MLB history. Yamamoto will take the mound for the Dodgers against Imanaga of the Cubs.
Yamamoto is entering his second season with Los Angeles. He was 7-2 with a 3.00 ERA last season and was an important part of the team’s World Series championship, with a brilliant performance in a Game 2 win over the Yankees.
Imanaga was an All-Star last year in his first season with the Cubs. The lefty finished with a 15-3 record and a 2.91 ERA in 2024.
The Dodgers will start Sasaki in the second game on Wednesday night.
Young Cubs
Third baseman Matt Shaw is expected to make his big league debut for the Cubs on Tuesday. Shaw is one of the team’s top prospects and did enough this spring to earn the starting nod.
Shaw was drafted with the No. 13 overall pick in 2020 after playing college baseball at Maryland. He hit .284 with 21 homers and 71 RBIs last season, splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A.
Other young Cubs include third-year outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who hopes to take a big step forward after an encouraging second half of 2024. Rookie second baseman Gage Workman could also make his MLB debut in Tokyo.
Ailing Mookie
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts will not play in either game against the Chicago Cubs because of an illness that’s lingered for the past week.
Manager Dave Roberts said Monday that Betts is starting to feel better but has lost nearly 15 pounds and is still trying to get rehydrated and gain strength. Roberts added that the eight-time All-Star might fly back to the United States before the team in an effort to rest and prepare for the domestic opener on March 27.
