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Los Angeles Dodgers: Trade or keep on potential trade chips this winter

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 talks with Cody Bellinger #35 during Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 27: Yasiel Puig #66 talks with Cody Bellinger #35 during Game Four of the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium on October 27, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers
(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Dodgers /

6. Max Muncy: Trade

Yep. I think that the Los Angeles Dodgers would be better off trading Max Muncy than the team would be trading Joc Pederson. There are probably a lot of people that disagree with that sentiment. Let me explain.

Muncy was arguably the biggest breakout player of the entire MLB last season or is at least second behind American League Cy Young, Blake Snell. Muncy practically came out of nowhere to provide the Dodgers one of the team’s most reliable power-hitting bats for the first half of the season.

And while Muncy did have an impact come October, there was a stretch of games in the second half of the season that saw Muncy come back to earth. Muncy looked completely lost against left-handed pitching and once pitchers figured out his patient approach, were able to attack the strike zone early and get him behind in the count.

However, since Muncy had such a good year he is still going to have a lot of trade value for a team looking for a designated hitter or first baseman to build their team around. Muncy is on a cheap contract and is under team control, which only increases his trade value.

There are reasons to keep Muncy on the Dodgers but the Dodgers would be just fine with Cody Bellinger and David Freese manning first base. Muncy can play second, but he is not great at it and would provide the same issue that Matt Kemp did late in the year.

Plus, there is a good chance that he will regress and if the Dodgers are going to get anything out of him now is the time. At least Pederson has a role on this team. Muncy’s role, at least right now in December, is unclear.

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