MLB Trade Pitch Would Send Dodgers Pitcher to Mets

The Los Angeles Dodgers have boasted one of the most talented rosters in MLB for years, leading to their second World Series title in five years. They achieved this feat without one of their top pitchers, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023. Now that the Dodgers have proven they can succeed without him, speculation is growing about whether the team will trade him soon.

The pitcher in question is Tony Gonsolin, who had a breakout 2022 season but struggled in 2023 before missing all of last year due to surgery.

Healthy and ready to return, the question remains whether he will do so with the Dodgers. Gonsolin, a ninth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2016, has spent his entire career with the team.

Over five seasons, he has posted a 34-11 record, a 3.19 ERA, and 349 strikeouts. He has been a reliable starter, but he could become the odd man out with the Dodgers’ deep pitching rotation and Gonsolin’s injury history. One team that could be interested in Gonsolin is the New York Mets. The Mets went 89-73 last season and made it to the NLCS, but their pitching struggles were a significant factor in their early exit.

After dealing with injuries and inconsistency on the mound, the Mets are looking to bolster their staff. A healthy and recovered Gonsolin could be the solution they need. Known for his excellent control, a fastball that tops out at 91-92 mph, and a consistently strong changeup, Gonsolin excels at limiting contact and frustrating hitters with his off-speed pitches.

In return, the Dodgers could get a few different things. They could get some young prospects. The Dodgers are obviously great now, but if they want to ensure they stay this way and still have some young guys developing, they should look to get a few prospects. This could also give them some depth if the injury bug hits.

One name that has been in trade talks a lot is Brett Baty, a 25-year-old third baseman. Pitcher Tylor Megill is another name the Dodgers could possibly want back in return for Gonsolin.

Aside from one of those two players, a possibility is a Triple-A guy or two, and some competitive balance picks are also possible as a return for Gonsolin. Los Angeles could get some prospects and picks for the future and maybe even another pitcher. The Mets would get a really good pitcher who is going to be back and healthy to help fix their pitching woes.

If the Dodgers want to move off of Gonsolin, the Mets may be the team to go to, as they have multiple players and prospects that they could be interested in. They know that they have great pitching and a World Series caliber roster without Gonsolin, so they might as well get some players for the future if they move off of Gonsolin is a Dodger for now, but it will be interesting to see if he is still in the same jersey at playoff time.

Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw offers encouraging update on return

The Dodgers re-signed Clayton Kershaw in February to a contract that guarantees him at least $7.5 million for what would be his 18th major league season — all in Los Angeles.

So far this season, Kershaw still hasn’t thrown a pitch. The 37-year-old future Hall of Famer is attempting to return from multiple offseason surgeries, and must perform to his typically high level (or close to it) to contribute to a team that won the World Series last October.

An important step to Kershaw’s return will come Saturday, when he’ll face hitters at Dodger Stadium for the first time since last year.

“I won’t be happy til I’m back on the mound” in games, Kershaw told reporters Friday, including Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group.

The money is a moot point for Kershaw, who’s earned nearly $300 million in his career according to Baseball Reference. Still, it’s worth noting that he can earn an additional $8.5 million in incentives this year if he makes 16 starts and is on the Dodgers’ active roster for 90 days.

The full $8.5 million is very much in play if Kershaw is able to maintain steady progress back to the mound beginning this weekend.

The Dodgers signed free agents Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki to join a rotation that already included right-handers Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin (who’s also on the injured list but faced hitters Friday).

Shohei Ohtani is also expected to resume his two-way duties at some point this season after exclusively serving as the Dodgers’ designated hitter — and winning the National League MVP award — in 2024.

Against this backdrop, it isn’t obvious when or how the Dodgers will make room for Kershaw in their rotation.

Regardless of his present situation, Kershaw’s place in franchise history is secure. The future first-ballot Hall of Famer is 212-94 with a 2.50 ERA in his career. He’s won three Cy Young Awards, made 10 All-Star teams, and won the 2014 MVP Award.