Dodgers Rumors: Insider Proposes Blockbuster Trade to Land LA Their New Ace
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the 2024 offseason with one clear need: Starting pitching.
The Dodgers got a combined 4.2 innings from their starting pitchers in their three NLDS losses, and will still be without Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin for most or all of 2024.
Walker Buehler is returning, but coming back from a second Tommy John surgery is no sure thing. And with Clayton Kershaw's rough end to 2023 and the unknowns regarding his potential retirement, the Dodgers need to ensure they make a move for at least one top starting pitcher this offseason — and Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report has just the proposal.
Reuter thinks the Dodgers should acquire former Cy Young winner and three-time All-Star Corbin Burnes from the Milwaukee Brewers, for a package that includes prospects Michael Busch and Emmet Sheehan, and minor league catcher Hunter Feduccia.
Here's a part of what he said:
"A blockbuster deal to acquire Corbin Burnes would immediately solidify the top of the rotation and give Los Angeles one of the best pitchers in baseball as the staff ace. Even with one year of club control remaining he won't come cheap, but it's a price worth paying, especially if they can get some assurance he plans to sign a long-term deal post-trade."
The Dodgers know they'll have to give talent to get talent, and Burnes is one of the most talented pitchers in baseball.
In his Cy Young winning 2021 campaign, he had a league-leading 2.43 ERA and 234 strikeouts across 167 innings of work.
Then he followed that up in 2022 with a dominant 2.94 ERA and 243 strikeouts across an incredibly durable 202 innings.
Last year, his ERA raised to 3.39, but he still struck out an impressive 200 batters in 193 innings of work.
For reference, Clayton Kershaw led the Dodgers in innings pitched last year, with a whopping 131.2 (not including Lance Lynn who came over after the trade deadline). That's just not a recipe for success.
Sheehan is definitely someone who factors into the Dodgers' future plans, but getting an ace like Burnes who the team would absolutely want to lock up long-term makes a ton of sense.
As for Busch, he's a top prospect who just hasn't gotten his fair shot with LA, and seems like the most likely trade candidate this offseason as he enters his age-26 season.
Burnes is the exact type of player you want to pitch a Game 1 in the postseason — the Dodgers should jump at a potential trade like this to get him to LA.
