Can We Dream?

Posted By on December 11, 2025

Now and then, a player comes along who is something very special… someone like Bobby Witt, Jr., the shortstop for the Kansas City Royals. I think it goes without saying that the Dodgers would love to have a player like this. What if the Royals could become even better by trading him for a deep haul of players? Let’s get right to it. It would take a HUGE “OVERPAY” to get him. What if the Dodgers offered Emmet Sheehan, Teoscar Hernandez, Dalton Rushing, Alex Freeland, Zyhir Hope, Jackson Ferris, and either Landon Knack or Bobby Miller for Bobby Witt, Jr.? Would the Royals say NO?

I actually think that the Royals would be better NEXT YEAR and in the future with Rushing, Teoscar, and Freeland in the lineup and with Sheehan pitching.

Lineup:

  1. Ohtani DH
  2. Witt Jr. SS
  3. Freeman 1B
  4. Smith C
  5. Tucker LF (oh, yeah, they signed him for 8 years/$330 M)
  6. Betts 2B
  7. Muncy 3B
  8. Pages RF
  9. Edman CF

That is a DEEP lineup!

This article has 58 Comments

  4. Witt would definitely be on my dream team….
    And I’d bat him ahead of Shohei.

    Meanwhile, in a conscious state, I noticed that the Royals have signed Lane Thomas, which might make the Teo rumor less viable. I also saw a report that two of the Royals’ top prospects are catchers. Perhaps Ryan Ward could journey from Dodger blue to Royal blue….
    That said, I also just noticed a report stating that Edman is not expected to be fully healed and ready for Opening Day, which would prevent or at least delay an OF of Teo-Edman-Pages. Edman may be delayed by a month or more–and that we may not expect the as-yet-unsigned Kike back until July. Perhaps these delays could provide guys like Ward, HS Kim and Alex Freeland an opportunity to prove themselves.
    There is, I think, a lot to like about this scenario. While it’s fun fantasize about the possibilities of a bullet-proof lineup–with Buxton or Tucker or Duran or Abreu–the Dodgers don’t need to lock in the best possible roster in the spring. If Ward, Kim and Freeland all flounder, the cavalry will be coming,
    Possible opening day lineup vs righty, with that L/R rhythm that Roberts likes:
    Shohei DH
    Mookie SS
    Freddie 1B
    Smith C
    Max 3B
    Teo RF
    Ryan LF
    Pages CF
    Kim 2B

    Bench: Freeland, Rojas, Call and Rushing.

    If the Dodgers do nothing more until spring, they’re still in fine shape.

        1. There was no room for Busch or McKinsley. How did that work out for the Dodgers? McK just won a SS as a bench guy. Imagine a bench with them replacing (pick two).

          2. McKinstry won the UT job after Kike left but got hurt…. The Dodgers traded him for Chris Martin, who helped the Dodgers win a title.
            There are a lot of ways the Dodgers can still improve the roster, but I wonder whether the brass feels any urgency. Perhaps they aren’t focused on one player and are patiently waiting for the Red Sox or Guardians or Twins to lower their price
            Last season, AF and/or BG got focussed on Conforto and thought he was worth $17million. Maybe they learned from that.

  5. wow! left field and right field defense is scary! i honestly believe that if Teo is a Dodger in 2026, he’s going to play left.. Ward is a very intriguing guy. i would hate for them to trade him and he hits 35 bombs somewhere else. i just don’t see a scenario where Teo stays in right field.
    like your idea of Whitt being a dodger. just can’t ever see it happening. I think somewhere along the line, The Wilson kid from the A’S. comes into play. Unless the A’S lock him up for a long time, he’ll be a hot commodity .
    Boy aren’t the dodgers smart for not “actually “ pursuing Soto? Seems nobody on the mets really likes the guy! i said it before last season, he’ll be a DH within the next couple years. if the mets don’t get Tucker or Bellinger, it’ll be a big disappointment in Mets land! I’m so sorry for them!

    1. Ward is a decoy to let other teams/agents think we have a starting OF option. We don’t and will be adding one 100%.

  6. I agree with you Duke. Teo stays until Edmon gets activated or they trade for Tucker. Then he goes even if we have to kick in cash and only get a few prospects.

    1. I think Teo stays…. .
      He’ll be shifted to LF and have a defensive replacement when the Dodgers are ahead in late innings.
      I expect the Dodgers to add a new outfielder as the market shakes out, even though they could hold off until midseason.
      Tucker and Belli are longshots. Bader is a good fit, but he may want more years than the Dodgers are willing to offer. The trade market could bring Buxton, Duran, Abreu, Kwan, Myers or a PTBL.
      A lot of good options.

    2. They aren’t trading Teo unless they get overwhelmed. People have been saying the same shit about Muncy for years…chemistry matters.

  7. Witt is a pipe dream but Bichette is there for the taking. He plays second next year then slides over to third in 27. We don’t have much in the pipeline for 3rd. Can DePaula play 1B after Freddie’s contract is up? Morales at SS in 28, moving Mookie to second. Infield would be set for several years

    2. I do not believe that Bichette has the arm for 3B… or SS for that matter.

      We shall soon see if that is true.

      1. He does seem more like 2B material now.
        If Bo could play SS, I think the Yankees would get him to replace Volpe and help them beat the Jays. That division is stacked and getting better.

  8. Dodgers open to trading Glasnow. Pepiot and Baz have been in discussions with the D-Backs as the Rays pursue Marte.

    1. As per Petriello:

      The Dodgers have claimed Mike Siani, who is not Mike Sirota, who is not Michael Soroka, who is not Mike Sirotka, who is definitely not Frank Sobotka, or even Chad Sobotka

      As per me, this has “Dean-replacement” written all over it.

      He has an option left.

      Excellent defensive center fielder, in 2024 with the Cardinals he had 19 OAA (99th percentile) in 124 games.

      But… he had a .570 OPS

  10. Longenhagen Chat:
    https://blogs.fangraphs.com/eric-longenhagen-prospects-chat-12-12-25/

    urub: No longer a prospect, but what’s your guess what happens with Dalton Rushing? Isn’t he good enough for a starting job somewhere?

    Eric A Longenhagen: He is but that doesn’t mean they have to trade him. It’d probably take a real blockbuster for me to move him.

    Scotty: Happy Friday, Eric. After doing the Dodgers list… in a vacuum as it stands today, would you trade Hope/Ferris for Michael Busch?

    Eric A Longenhagen: At his moment you’d rather have the busch end of the deal in a vacuum

    Guest: Please rank the following in terms of long term potential: McLean, Sasaki, Burns, Horton, Schlitter. Thanks!

    Eric A Longenhagen: Flip Cam and Cade and they’re basically in the right order for me right now. You could flip Burns and Roki if you want, they’re basically the same for me.

  11. I mentioned way back that my wife has a cousin in the Yankee org, Jonathan Loaisiga, an injury riddled reliever, 31 years old, that has had a rather respetable career so far.

    Now he’s returning from injury and ramping up his velocity, the Yankees have opted to let him go. He reports that 3 National League teams are interested. The Cubs, Giants and D-Backs. All waiting to see how he looks playing winter ball in Nicaragua.

    The Dodgers signed his brother, an infielder, a few years back, but he didn’t pan out in the Dominican Summer League. Looks like they aren’t in on his brother .

    It’s gonna be brutal with the family if he signs with the Giants (the team that originally signs him back in 2013).

    https://www.nj.com/yankees/2025/12/yankees-free-agent-weighing-3-offers-that-come-with-contingency.html?outputType=amp

  14. Definitely. And maybe JT could get a job as a coach… or return to Cal State Fullerton and rebuild the Titans’ once-mighty program.
    On the dream front, a YouTuber using the “trade values” site came up with this proposal for Skubal:
    –Rushing
    — Glasnow
    — Wrobleski
    –Patrick Copen , an SP who is now ranked about #17 among Dodgers prospects.|
    –$20 million to help compensate for Glasnow’s salary.
    I’m not that bullish on a Skubal deal–feels like overkill– but something like this seems in the proverbial ballpark.

    1. Overpay. Unless Skubal had agreed to sign extension ahead of time. For one year….hard no.

    2. A hard NO on Skubal on a one year or long term deal. Medical history NOT a positive and would be an overpay on a one year deal. Sign Bichette to play second base makes more sense.

  15. Hi Mark. I just happened to run across your article from 2020, about the Dodger’s trades from 1958-1979. I really enjoyed it. I also thought I’d mention, that they traded for Manny Mota during or before the 1969 season. In your article, it says it occured in 1966.
    Thanks,
    Point And Laugh

  16. Hello. I just happened to run across your article from 2020, about the Dodger’s trades from 1958-1979. I really enjoyed it. I also thought I’d mention, that they traded for Manny Mota during or before the 1969 season. In your article, it says it occured in 1966.
    Thanks,
    Point And Laugh

    2. I wrote that article not Mark. The date was a typo. I remember the trade well. I have since corrected the typo. It happens. Mota and Wills were traded to the Dodgers on June 11th, 1969, just before the June 15th deadline.

  17. Kenley Jansen signed a one-year contract with the Tigers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

  18. Per Ardaya:

    The Dodgers have brought back RHP Nick Frasso on a minor league deal, source confirms. Had been non-tendered last month. @AramLeighton8 was on it.

    Talented prospect who has had some injury trouble that has kept him from an MLB debut. Now, he remains in the org.

  20. Good news about Frasso.
    He was the key player in the Mitch White trade to Jays. Great arm but progress delayed by injuries….
    Stumbled upon the 11th inning highlights of Game 7 on YouTube. Forgot that Kershaw was warming up in the bullpen when Yamamoto closed out the win with the grounder to Mookie for the double play.

  21. I’m pulling for your colts today Mark, as is every old guy in America. Rivers is such a quality guy and a great competitor. Go colts!!

  22. I was thinking about went into building this dynasty and while the foundation is the minor league system & player development it all started with Betts.

    After landing that franchise-defining player we needed a pure bat to replace Seager and got Freeman. An attempt to land a TOR arm netted us Glasnow and Ohtani/Yama sealed the deal.

    But the real key move was extending Smith.

  23. According to MLBTR the Giants and Mariners are the front runners for Brendan Donovan Brewers traded Isaac Collins and Rick Mears to the Royals for Angel Zerpa. Orioles outrighted former Dodger Ryan Noda to AAA. D-Backs bringing back Merrill Kelly on a 2-year 40-million-dollar deal. Mets and Padres interested in Luis Robert Jr. Long Beach will have a minor league team this year that will be playing at Blair Field.

  24. Dodgers new low-A affiliate is now at Ontario, and their name is The Tower Buzzers. Rancho is now an Angels affiliate moving from the Inland Empire. They had an event yesterday featuring Mike Scioscia.

  25. After hearing what Andrew said I feel confident that he will acquire an outfielder who is good on both sides of the ball. As he said we will just have to let things play out.

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