Will losing out on Greinke force Dodgers to part ways with Puig, Pederson?
The City of Angels shook on Friday – not from activity on the San Andreas Fault, but from the news that Zack Greinke had signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks and would not be returning to the Dodgers as the latter end of a 1-2 punch with Clayton Kershaw.
The shock Dodgers fans felt on Friday has quickly morphed to anxious curiosity as they wait for the front office, led by president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, to restock the team's starting rotation, which includes much uncertainty beyond Kershaw.
After failing to re-sign Greinke, the Dodgers only have left-handers Brett Anderson and Alex Wood in their rotation behind Kershaw. Both Hyun-jin Ryu (shoulder) and Brandon McCarthy (elbow) are recovering from significant injuries and are considered to be wildcards for 2016 in terms of their performance.
As the Dodgers survey the market for a top-tier starter, elite free-agent pitchers are being signed at a rapid pace, as Jeff Samardzija, considered one of the best right-handers on the market, signed with the San Francisco Giants on Saturday.
After failing to sign Jordan Zimmermann (Tigers) or David Price (Red Sox), the Dodgers' options are limited on the free-agent market, and are currently whittled down to Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, and Hisashi Iwakuma.
With the money they would have spent on Greinke, Los Angeles could also pick up a pair of second-tier starters. Yovani Gallardo and Ian Kennedy might be options for that strategy, or a buy-low option on Doug Fister might be feasible as well.
However, with the Winter Meetings coming up on Sunday, rumblings that the Dodgers will "dangle outfielders Yasiel Puig and Joc Pederson to generate interest" are widespread and suggest Los Angeles might be willing to part ways with their star outfielders in order to acquire a starter.
A move of such magnitude would only make sense for the Dodgers if it were for a young, relatively inexpensive starter who will be under team control for a handful of years.
Atlanta Braves righty Shelby Miller, whom the Dodgers have been rumored to be interested in, fits that mold perfectly.
Despite a 6-17 record with the rebuilding Braves last season, Miller is one of the most promising young pitchers in MLB, and would be a pivotal pickup for the Dodgers not just for the 2016 season, but for many seasons to come, as he's under team control through 2018.
While parting ways with Pederson after the potential he displayed in the first half of his rookie season would be a risky deal, landing a significant return for Puig – who is considered to be a mercurial figure in the clubhouse, and has found his way into trouble off the field again in addition to his declining performance on the field – would be worthwhile for the Dodgers to explore.
However, Los Angeles might have to act quickly if it's truly interested in Miller.
Being snake-bitten twice might be lethal for the Dodgers' hopes of defending their NL West title.
