Fansided

Minnesota Twins: Finding a Brian Dozier trade partner

By Nate Palmer |
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of the game on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mariners defeated the Twins 1-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - MAY 14: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of the game on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mariners defeated the Twins 1-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
3 of 4
Next
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 14: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of the game on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mariners defeated the Twins 1-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 14: Brian Dozier #2 of the Minnesota Twins reacts to striking out against the Seattle Mariners during the sixth inning of the game on May 14, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Mariners defeated the Twins 1-0. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

The Minnesota Twins sit in limbo between buyer and seller. Regardless of which one they are they may benefit from trading Brian Dozier, but to who?

The Minnesota Twins will need to soon decide whether they are going to be buyers or sellers come the trade deadline. There have already been several trades that have sent some significant players around the majors. Seattle brought in Alex Colome and Denard Span. In a move that effects the topic of the article, the Milwaukee Brewers recently acquired middle infielder Brad Miller.

That brings us to the Twins and their own middle infielding free agent to be, Brian Dozier. At 29-35 and 5.0 games back of the Cleveland Indians, anything really can happen yet for the Twins this season. Regardless of the franchises goals for the rest of the season, it is time for the Twins to start gauging what they may be able to get in a Dozier trade.

It seems clear that Dozier isn’t in the Twins plans moving into 2019. With Eduardo Escobar hitting as well as he has been, and Nick Gordon tearing up Triple-A it makes parting with Dozier much easier. There is a good chance that trading Dozier doesn’t even mean waiving the white flag on 2018. It may simply mean getting value and giving Gordon a chance to play in the majors.

The hard part of trades is always finding who is willing to be the partner on the other side of the deal. That was the hard part a couple of offseasons ago when the Twins were reportedly shopping or at least listening intently on Dozier. At the time the only realistic partner was the Los Angeles Dodgers. In this space we will look to see who else might be potential trade partners for the Twins and Dozier.

The other side of considering a Dozier trade is value. Dozier is off to one of his traditionally slow starts which certainly isn’t helping his trade stock value. He is hitting .233/.313/.403 with nine home runs and currently just doesn’t seem like he is able to get square on pitches. Even with that there is still value in Dozier and the Twins do not want to simply give up the slugging second baseman for a bag of balls. Whatever the return package is for Dozier it must be of higher value than the draft pick compensation the Twins would receive if they extended Dozier a qualifying offer.

Let’s take a look at who may be looking for a slugging second baseman as they pursue postseason glory.

LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 12: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers drops a throw from Caleb Ferguson #64 as Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers reaches first base during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 12: Max Muncy #13 of the Los Angeles Dodgers drops a throw from Caleb Ferguson #64 as Delino DeShields #3 of the Texas Rangers reaches first base during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Dodgers

As you may remember, the Los Angeles Dodgers were really the lone suitor for Dozier two offseasons ago. That offseason they seemed less than willing to offer up much for a very good hitting Dozier with a very team friendly contract. Instead, they ended up swinging a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire Logan Forsythe.

Here we are in 2018 and the Dodgers could again look to upgrade their middle infield situation. Injuries have contributed in big ways to that need. The injury to their star shortstop Corey Seager will cause him to miss the rest of the season after having season-ending Tommy John surgery. Chase Utley has also been on the disabled list with a thumb injury. Even when healthy the 39-year-old was only slashing .216/.302/.324.

The previously mentioned Forsythe also isn’t hitting very impressively for the Dodgers as he is slashing .211/.266/.325. Chris Taylor is really the only middle infielder who is performing respectively for the Dodgers as he is slashing .253/.341/.451, but with Seager’s injury he slots in as the primary shortstop. The Dodgers have found some offense in first baseman Max Muncy who is hitting .277/.395/.631 with 13 home runs. They just recently tried Muncy at second base in a game against the Texas Rangers to likely try to fix some of their woes at that position.

The Dodgers are likely the best fit for a Dozier trade as their need and potential willingness to swing a deal seems the highest.

DENVER, CO – JUNE 10: Ketel Marte #4 and Nick Ahmed #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after an 8-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – JUNE 10: Ketel Marte #4 and Nick Ahmed #13 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after an 8-3 win over the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on June 10, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks have already swung one trade in an attempt to bolster their team by acquiring Jon Jay from the Kansas City Royals. With the Dodgers struggles to begin the season the Diamondbacks find themselves in position to pounce on the National League West and put themselves in position for a good playoff run.

The Diamondbacks currently employ an exciting player in Ketel Marte as their second baseman. The speedy infielder is batting .245/.298/.410 with a .709 OPS. He has used his speed to hit 12 doubles and 7 triples. Marte also has positional flexibility with the ability to slide over to and also play shortstop.

If Dozier came in and manned second, Marte slid over to short, that would essentially allow Dozier’s bat to replace Nick Ahmed‘s. Ahmed is only slashing .222/.277/.420 and a .697 OPS. This may not top the list of needs for the Diamondbacks, but if they are willing to gamble on Dozier hitting one of his patented hot second half streaks he would help them keep the Dodgers off their heels.

These first two teams may actually set up a best case scenario for the Twins. If two teams attempting to land the top spot in the NL West would battle each other for the services of Dozier that would only help the Twins. The Diamondbacks have time and again shown a willingness to swing a deal (and have made a trade with this Twins front office) making this an even more interesting team for the Twins to be reaching out to as a Dozier landing spot.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 9: Second baseman Dee Gordon #9 of the Seattle Mariners catches Mallex Smith #0 of the Tampa Bay Rays attempting to steal during the eighth inning of a game on June 9, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images)
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – JUNE 9: Second baseman Dee Gordon #9 of the Seattle Mariners catches Mallex Smith #0 of the Tampa Bay Rays attempting to steal during the eighth inning of a game on June 9, 2018 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

Seattle Mariners

For the time being the Seattle Mariners are keeping pace with the Houston Astros. Early in the season they received the blow of first a Robinson Cano injury, which led almost directly into news of his 80-game PED suspension. That has led to now a series of shifts in the original plan for the Mariners season.

While Cano’s return in August would create an interesting log jam, acquiring Dozier would allow the Mariner’s to move Dee Gordon back to center field. And since Cano is also now ineligible for postseason play that allows the Mariners to keep that defensive alignment into the postseason. And for the month or so Cano and Dozier are rostered together, maybe Dozier could be rotated over to third a bit. Something Twins fans have wanted to see at times anyways, right?

More from Puckett's Pond

Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox are missing their own star second baseman in Dustin Pedroia. The Red Sox are playing some incredible baseball even in Pedroia’s absence. All signs point to expecting him to return to the line up at some point this season, but if this knee injury is worse than we know they could look to add someone like Dozier to their lineup.

An alternate benefit to acquiring Dozier in Pedroia’s absence is both Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt are able to remain in their utility roles. Both can be fine players for the Red Sox. Both are also most valuable rotating off the bench when the matchups are right. This is certainly a long shot and only works if the Red Sox know they will be without Pedroia for most of the season.

Next: Looks like Lance Lynn has turned things around

As you can see, the market for Dozier looks slim. There just aren’t very many contending teams that need to add a second baseman to their roster. So while the Twins would benefit by capitalizing on trading Dozier. Finding a trade partner will be a tall task for the front office.

Next
Home / Minnesota Twins News

Schedule