Dodgers: The five trade targets that make the Dodgers better in 2018
By Jason Reed
4. 2B Kolten Wong
There is a situation in the St. Louis infield that not many have yet come to address, but will see itself unfolding during the offseason. St. Louis has too many cooks in the kitchen. Instead of hanging on to extra assets, the Cardinals could trade a piece for an area of need. That tradeable piece next season is Kolten Wong and the Dodgers are the perfect suitor for his talents.
The Cardinals have a young great trio of Jedd Gyorky, Paul DeJong and Aledmys Diaz manning the infield with veteran Matt Carpenter at first base. With Diaz injured most of the season the Cardinals were able to play DeJong primarily at shortstop. However, with Diaz set to return to shortstop next year, there is no other place than second base for DeJong.
Thus, the shopping could ensue and the Cardinals could float Wong’s name into trade talks. Although the Dodgers already have a second baseman in Logan Forsythe, they should be the first team to try to land Wong.
Wong brings everything the Dodgers need. First, Wong brings speed and baserunning prowess that the Dodgers do not have. Wong has stolen as many as 20 bases in one season; the Dodgers were 19th in steals with 77.
Most importantly, Wong fills the platoon hole left behind by Chase Utley. Forsythe is great and all, but he cannot hit right-handed pitching to save his life. The left-handed hitting Wong, however, hit .288 against right-handers last season in 325 plate appearances. It is a match made in blue heaven.