The Los Angeles Dodgers completed the most daring move of the offseason to acquire the talents of former MVP Bryce Harper by trading away three former all-stars.
Outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp along with starting pitcher Alex Wood have been traded to the Cincinnati Reds for pitcher Homer Baily and minor league prospects. The move is surprising considering Los Angeles is fresh off its second straight World Series appearance. Signs of a move have been foreshadowed over the last year or so.
According to Mike Axisa of CBS Sports, The Dodgers and Nationals were working a deal that would have sent Yasiel Puig to Washington and in return Bryce Harper to Los Angeles prior to the August waiver deadline.
Trading away the trio of former all-stars works as a semi-retooling for the Dodgers. The trade also frees up necessary salary for Los Angeles to remain under the luxury tax while giving flexibility to the front office to make sign Bryce Harper.
Harper has been rumored to be seeking a $400 million contract, an unlikely prize for a once in a generation talent. A more reasonable salary is closer to the now record held by Giancarlo Stanton of $325 million over 13 years.
The Dodgers now have the money to sign to Harper after freeing up $12 million in the trade with Cincinnati. Los Angeles may have acquired only one major league player in the exchange but the Dodgers now have the entire MLB free agent class in the palm of their hands.
MLB Network's John Morosi has now given Los Angeles the edge to sign Harper but remains skeptical. There is a "better chance" of Harper going to the Dodgers now, but there remains "a long way" to go before anything happens.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sport's also cast doubt on the move by noting the team's current luxury-tax payroll is more than $180 million. "If the [Dodgers] want to stay under, Harper isn't happening," Passan said. "If that's not a concern, it's a possibility."
Los Angeles Times reporter Bill Shaiken stated the Dodgers informed potential investors the team intends to stay under the luxury-tax threshold for "at least the next four years."
However, one team official told Shaiken he would be "shocked" if the Dodgers didn't spend more than $200 million on payroll next season.
The Dodgers have a decision to make. Stay under the luxury tax or make the biggest signing in Los Angeles Dodgers history. The latter is expected considering the team's history to do whatever it takes to win.
The loss of former General Manager Farhan Zaidi to the rival Giants has not slowed down current President of Operations Andrew Friedman in making the possible biggest splash of the offseason.
Harper is the white whale of the free agent class and Friedman and the Dodgers are one step away from bringing the former MVP to Hollywood.
Listen to the latest episode of the BushLeagueSports Podcast:
https://www.bushleaguesports.net/podcast-1/episode/c2eb4fdc/lebron-recruiting-anthony-davis-and-lakers-tradesbryce-harper-free-agencynfl-week-preview
Get caught up on the where Bryce Harper may land this offeason:
https://www.bushleaguesports.net/blog/bryce-harper-once-in-a-lifetime-free-agent
*preview photo credited to Yahoo Sports
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