Los Angeles Dodgers: In hindsight, the Cincinnati Reds trade was awful

Hindsight is always 20/20 and it is becoming clear that the Los Angeles Dodgers’ trade with the Cincinnati Reds fell in the Reds’ favor.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have brought in three new notable faces to the big league club: A.J. Pollock, Joe Kelly and Russell Martin. However, prior to acquiring Martin and Pollock, the team parted ways with three familiar faces in Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and Alex Wood.

The Dodgers traded the trio alongside Kyle Farmer to the Cincinnati Reds for Homer Bailey and prospects Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray.

Bailey was promptly cut and was merely used as a piece to save salary with Downs and Gray both falling in the top-30 of the Dodgers farm system.

At first, this deal seemed to be great for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The team would be saving money to get even further under the luxury tax that they were already beneath and would be opening up space for a big-name acquisition.

However, that big-name acquisition never happened. Pollock is the best signing the team has made and he may or may not pan out, all depending if he can stay healthy and produce.

Now, over a month removed from the trade, fans should feel a sour taste left in their mouth. Some are signaling that Pollock was merely an upgrade from Puig, which is a debate in upon itself. However, there is a world in which the Dodgers could have had both Puig and Pollock.

The idea that the Los Angeles Dodgers saved a lot of money in this deal is absurd. After arbitration numbers for Puig and Wood, the Dodgers ended up saving only $3.2 million. The $7 million cash that was sent was for Matt Kemp, which is not a part of the luxury tax and essentially saved the team $10.2 million.

All that to sign Pollock to a reduced contract and still fall $13.3 million under the luxury tax. All the team had to do was trade Alex Wood for prospects and the Dodgers would have saved only $1.3 million fewer than they did in the Reds deal.

Then, if the Dodgers needed to open up a roster spot, the team could have simply cut Matt Kemp, like they did Bailey.

As is stands right now, the Dodgers are searching for a third outfielder, especially if the team does trade Joc Pederson. Some signal that Cody Bellinger is the answer, however, Bellinger is much better at first base and Max Muncy is much better defensively at second base. The stats back it up and that is where the two belong.

Instead of forcing an unnatural fit the Dodgers could have retained Puig, made that move with Wood and played Puig in right field, Pollock in center field and Verdugo in left field.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers make a move for a third outfielder, such as Nicholas Castellanos, then the trade starts to make sense. However, if not, the trade looks absolutely absurd as all of those guys were off the books after this year anyway and there were ways to dance around that cap figure.

Dodger fans will miss Yasiel Puig and it probably is a bit of a homer bias towards the Wild Horse.

However, financially, the Los Angeles Dodgers could have easily kept Puig and stayed under the luxury tax; which makes you question why the team made the move in the first place.