How the Dodgers can sneakily land Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been pretty quiet this offseason. However, that does not mean that Andrew Friedman won’t sneak in and pull off a masterpiece.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have not done much this offseason. Aside from picking up some key bullpen arms, the Dodgers are without anything to take home this offseason. Los Angeles already lost Brandon Morrow to the Chicago Cubs, and is likely to lose Chase Utley, Andre Ethier and Yu Darvish as well.

This complacency has led to many Dodger fans (including myself) to demand action. Granted, the Dodgers front office is full of geniuses and knows exactly what they are doing. It is pretty irrational to demand action just because the Dodgers did not want to take on the luxury tax burden of Giancarlo Stanton.

Still, you want to see the defending NL Champs do something. No team that makes the World Series then becomes complacent ever replicates their success the next season. Look at the 2012-2013 Tigers, 2013-2014 Red Sox, 2016-2017 Cubs. While they are still good teams, everyone else gets better. The Dodgers cannot afford that to happen.

Luckily for Dodger fans, there are new potential targets that may find themselves in Los Angeles. The Miami Marlins are again on their shopping spree. Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto, the two established guys left, are being shopped around.

The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals have emerged as the favorites to land the duo. The Los Angeles Dodgers, on the other hand, have not entered the discussion at all. That is perfect, that is exactly what the front office wants. Nobody typically knows what the team will do until they do it. Now, the team can sneakily land the pair similar to how they sneakily landed Yu Darvish.

It helps that the Dodgers can send the Marlins a package that not only is intriguing but does not hurt them in the grand scheme of things. The package?

Los Angeles would have to give up a pretty hefty package, but they can definitely afford it and it is definitely worth it. Yelich is only 26 and is under team control for five more seasons. Realmuto is under team control for three more seasons and is only 26 as well. Between the two, the Dodgers would not have to have any long-term worries at catcher or in the outfield.

That is why the team can give up such a hefty trade package; a trade package that is spoiling the Miami Marlins. They are getting Alex Verdugo — the Dodgers best hitting prospect that is undoubtedly big league ready.

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Yadier Alvarez is the organization’s third-best prospect and has ace potential. Grandal and Kemp give the Marlins some established talent to play under their old head coach, Don Mattingly. Finally, Miami is also getting the Dodgers’ top catching prospect in Keibert Ruiz, who is also the fifth-best catching prospect in baseball.

This move not only cements the Dodgers’ chances at winning a World Series it is a move that keeps the team under the luxury tax and solves some long-term problems.

Yelich can become the Dodgers everyday center fielder for years to come, moving Chris Taylor to left field. Realmuto would be the most consistent catcher the Dodgers have had since Russell Martin.

Quite frankly, the Dodgers should want to make this deal happen. Even if they have to give up more to please the Marlins, getting these two guys is imperative. It is the best trade the team can make and still gives the team flexibility to bring in another ace pitcher. If Dodger fans should be rooting for anything this offseason, it’s this deal.

Next: Five bold predictions for the Dodgers in 2018

However, it is a lot of strings to pull and likely will never happen; hence why LA is not in the talks to begin with. Still, this trade package is a good baseline to start from.

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