Dodgers Rumors: MLB Insider Links Several Shortstop Names as Options for LA

Fire up the Dodgers rumor mill!

The Dodgers are in need of a shortstop. You know it. I know it. Everyone in baseball knows it. And it has been that way really since the day Gavin Lux went down with a knee injury. At the time, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the club would not make a move for the sake of making a move but instead would take time to assess the needs of the club.

22 games into the season and the needs are pretty clear. They need a shortstop.

Mookie Betts wants to play the position but the Dodgers seem reluctant to go that route. He is, after all, a 6-time Gold Glover in right field. 

For what it's worth, teammate Freddie Freeman says he believes Mookie could win a Golf Glove just about anywhere on the field.

So if the Dodgers aren't going to go the Betts route at the position, they're gonna need to go somewhere. Lux's replacement, Miguel Rojas is showing his age and struggling to stay on the field, playing in just half of LA's games so far this season.

MLB insider and former GM Jim Bowden fielded some questions from baseball fans in a recent mailbag column on The Athletic. There he touched on the Dodgers' issues at shortstop and threw out a few names as options the team should consider exploring in trades.

If I were the Dodgers, I would target Jorge Mateo of the Orioles ... Mateo is a well-above-average defender and one of the fastest players in the league. I’d also call the Cardinals to see if they would move shortstop Tommy Edman or their top shortstop prospect, Masyn Winn, who appears to be major-league-ready. Don’t laugh, but I also might call the Tigers about Javier Báez, to see how much of his remaining salary they’d be willing to eat.

Could the Dodgers Trade for Jorge Mateo?

Considering his scorching start, it's hard to see the Orioles moving Mateo. And, considering the O's are currently in second place in the AL East (!) it's hard to see them trying to sell the fanbase on trading one of their top performers.

Analysis: it's hard to see it happening.

Could the Dodgers Trade for Tommy Edman?

Tommy Edman is one of the best defensive shortstops in the game. He's also a key member of a Cardinals' team that wants to make the playoffs one more time before Adam Wainwright hangs up his spikes.

Wynn is 21 and struggling at his first taste at the Triple-A level this year.

Analysis: it's hard to see it happening.

Could the Dodgers Trade for Javy Baez?

Javier Baez isn't the same Javy Baez of old. Or of young? The contact is gone. The on-base is bad. The glove isn't what it used to be. ... and he has 4 more years left on his 6 year, $140 million contract (he can opt out after 2023... but he's not doing that).

The Tigers are bad and that won't be changing any time soon, so this is a club that's undoubtedly ready to make a move. But, unless owner Chris Illich is willing to pitch in, like, $60 million of the $58 million the shortstop is owed over the next 4 years, the Dodgers would be better off sticking with Chris Taylor and loaning him James Outman's pet rock for a few months.

Analysis: it's hard to stomach it happening.