Los Angeles Dodgers: How to get Bryce Harper AND Corey Kluber

The Los Angeles Dodgers are connected to two massive stars in Corey Kluber and Bryce Harper. Instead of choosing one or the other, the Dodgers can acquire both.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had some of the biggest names in baseball history suit up in Dodger Blue. Even now, the Dodgers host a star-studded cast led by Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Kenley Jansen, Corey Seager, Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger, Yasiel Puig and Max Muncy, just to name a few.

While not all of those names are bonafide stars, Kershaw, Jansen, Seager and Turner are. That is the supporting cast that is going to lead to the Dodgers’ successes in 2019 with Seager serving as the foundation for the future of the franchise.

Even with a fairly deep cast, the Dodgers are looking to add big pieces. Initially, the Los Angeles Dodgers were connected to Corey Kluber in a potential trade with the Cleveland Indians. Now, the Dodgers’ interest in Bryce Harper is realized.

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Well, kind of.

It was reported by Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports that Magic Johnson led a Dodgers group to Las Vegas to meet with Bryce Harper. However, less than 24 hours after the initial reports, Magic Johnson denied the meeting from every happening.

This could be a clever ploy by Johnson to get the rest of the team’s in on Harper off the Dodgers’ trail. Heck, he never denied that the Dodgers met with Harper, he simply denied that he did not go to Vegas to meet with Harper.

Besides that report, there has not been anything else that signals that the Dodgers are interested in Harper. But why wouldn’t they be? He is a massive star that would fit this massive market nicely and could be the final piece of a World Series-winning puzzle.

Except he might not be the only piece as the trade speculation around Kluber is growing real steam. The best part? The Los Angeles Dodgers can land both stars.

The first step in the process is trading for Kluber. Making a deal for Kluber does open the door for Harper, however.

The biggest piece rumored in this deal for the Indians is Puig, who would fill the team’s outfield need. He would not be the only piece, as the Dodgers would have to include prospects as well. In order to get Harper, I would even include either Matt Kemp or Rich Hill to negate contract costs.

Both guys are on expiring deals and the Indians would have a use for both. Hill would replace Kluber’s spot in the rotation and Kemp can be a rotational outfielder and DH. I would package Puig and Hill/Kemp, pitching prospect Dustin May, catching prospect Will Smith, pitching prospect Dennis Santana and infield prospect Edwin Rios.

That sounds like a lot but the Dodgers have the depth to make the move. May is the headlining piece, Smith is blocked by Keibert Ruiz anyway and Santana and Rios are both big league ready with no spot on the MLB roster.

Oh, alongside Kluber should also be catcher Yan Gomes.

*Editor’s note: Yan Gomes has been traded to the Washington Nationals.

This deal would leave the Dodgers with enough space to sign Harper and stay relatively near the luxury tax threshold. With Harper and the emergence of Alex Verdugo, the Dodgers would boast a pretty steady outfield.

The Dodgers can run Harper and Verdugo at the corners with Bellinger in center and Max Muncy at first with Joc Pederson coming off the bench. Or, the Dodgers can run Harper, Verdugo and Pederson/Taylor in the outfield with Max Muncy at second and Bellinger at first.

Either way, the Dodgers would be getting a frontline ace to give the team a top-notch starting rotation and a power-hitting bat that would be a much-needed boost to the offense.

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Imagine a starting rotation headlined by Kershaw, Kluber and Buehler with a lineup consisting of Verdugo, Seager, Turner, Harper, Bellinger, Muncy in the top six. That would be a dominant Los Angeles Dodgers team.

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