Why the Dodgers should trade for starting pitcher Michael Fulmer

The Dodgers are one starter away from having the best rotation in baseball. With the re-signing of Yu Darvish becoming less and less likely, Los Angeles should trade for the 2016 American League Rookie of the Year.

The Dodgers should trade for Michael Fulmer. They should part ways with a top prospect or two and trade for the Tigers’ rookie. Ever since Justin Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros at the waiver-deadline last August, Fulmer has been the ace of the Detriot Tigers. The Tigers, though, are rebuilding, and the Dodgers could fuel that rebuild by sending a few prospects to Detroit.

It’s a trade that could help LA reclaim the title of the best team in baseball.

In 2017, Fulmer followed up his historic rookie season with a record of 10-12 and carried a 3.83 ERA into the offseason. I may have said it before but it begs to be repeated, I love when teams rebuild. I find it to be one of the many fascinating aspects of the game. The Tigers are rebuilding, and though Fulmer may very well be part of their future, the Dodgers should attempt to reach an agreeable trade.

Will a Fulmer-less Dodgers rotation affect the season in major ways? Probably not, but it’s a risk that LA doesn’t have to take.

In order to avoid a tale that is told every single season, the Dodgers need Fulmer. If not Fulmer, they need somebody. Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher on the planet. I can say that with absolute certainty, and complete confidence. Though that may be true, relying on Kershaw, Alex Wood and Rich Hill will put pressure on the rotation, pressure that doesn’t need to be there.

The Dodgers need to charge into 2018 looking stronger than ever, and adding Michael Fulmer can help them do that.

Now, who the Dodgers would trade in order to acquire Fulmer is a far more complex question. The untouchables in this trade, like in all trades made by the Dodgers last season, would in all likelihood be Alex Verdugo, and Walker Buehler. Included on that list could also be RHP Yadier Alvarez, C Keibert Ruiz, and CF Jeren Kendall.

In order to trade for Fulmer, the Dodgers are going to have to part with one, if not two, of them.

The Dodgers aren’t going to trade Buehler. If that were to happen, I’d be more shocked than I was when I found out they traded for Yu Darvish.

Verdugo, and Ruiz, however, could be traded. If the Dodgers decide to pursue Fulmer, then it’s doubtful that the Tigers would agree on a trade that doesn’t include either of them.

Trading a top prospect or two wouldn’t hurt the Dodgers, not now at least. With all the talent that this team has, they can afford to trade Verdugo or Ruiz or Alvarez and still be in pretty good shape. Fulmer is still a rookie, but he’s a rookie with two years of major league experience to include on his stats page.

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Another advantage to trading for Fulmer is that he’s not a free agent. In fact, he won’t be a free agent until 2023. The Dodgers wouldn’t have to worry about offering the starter a massive contract to get him to come to LA.

Since he’s only been in the majors for a couple seasons, his contract is definitely manageable for the Dodgers, even amidst their goal of staying under the luxury tax. In 2017, Fulmer made just north of half a million dollars. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Dodgers offered to take on all of his contract for the coming seasons.

This trade, above any other, could help the Dodgers get back to, and even win, the World Series.

All offseason, we’ve heard talks about the Dodgers re-signing Darvish, or trading for Chris Archer. There have even been a few quiet whispers about a potential, yet still unlikely, signing of Jake Arrieta. All of that is inside the realm of possibility, but it may not be what’s best for LA in the long run.

Trading for Michael Fulmer would be huge for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it makes a lot of sense. This organization has the money, and they have the prospects.

It makes sense.

The Yankees trading for Giancarlo Stanton makes sense. The Cubs signing Brandon Morrow makes sense. The Dodgers should follow suit and trade for the Tigers’ rookie.

That’s not the only reason they should do it, though. Theys shouldn’t trade for Fulmer merely because it makes sense. They should trade for him because, statistically, he’ll make the team better. He’s right-handed, which would put him alongside Kenta Maeda as the only righties in the rotation. He’s young, and he gives up an incredibly low amount of home runs (13 over the course of 164.2 innings last season.)

Fulmer’s hometown also happens to be the location of LA’s Triple-A team, the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Los Angeles has been in the middle of offseason trade rumors since the day it began. If they traded for Fulmer, it would quiet the talk and help everyone focus on what really matters; winning the World Series in 2018.

So, should they trade for the Tigers starter?

Next: The Dodgers' Potential 2020 Rotation is Terrifying

It comes down to this; the Dodgers want to win it all in 2018. Michael Fulmer can help them do it.

If we pose the question like that; don’t we already know the answer?

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