The Los Angeles Dodgers, by virtue of their creativity and piles of money, are a team that you can’t really rule out of doing just about anything.
That would include, even coming off a 111-win season with a roster that figures to be loaded again next year, pursuing the guy who was the best player in baseball this season.
As Mark Feinsand reports, the Dodgers could really get in on Aaron Judge’s free agency:
According to sources, the Dodgers could become serious players in this offseason’s Aaron Judge sweepstakes, a move that would potentially result in a position change for Betts, a six-time All-Star outfielder
In theory, Judge could play center field at first for the Dodgers (who might move on from Cody Bellinger after two years of profound struggles), with Mookie Betts staying in right field. But eventually, as Judge gets older, the thinking is that he would slide back over to right, and Betts would go to second base, where he played earlier in his career. According to Feinsand’s sources, moving back to second base is something Betts is open to, and maybe even wanted to do later in his career anyway.
OK, so they can make the players work, but are the Dodgers really going to pony up the $300+ million it might cost to sign Judge over 10+ years, starting with his age 31 season? Does that sound like them? Eh, I meant what I said up top: you can’t rule it out. You might, though, see the Dodgers try to land Judge on one of those shorter-term, monster AAV type deals (four years and $200 million? is that nuts? … or is it interesting?)
Of note, the Dodgers came up the last time Judge’s free agency was in the news, back when they were cited, together with the Giants and Cubs, as the teams the Yankees feared most as competition for Judge. It was certainly exciting to see the Cubs mentioned, though the Giants and Dodgers might make more sense.
So, I suppose this bears watching. Most would still bet on Judge eventually re-signing with the Yankees when all is said and done, but apparently the Dodgers might get aggressive. Speaking of which, though, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that this report finds its origins with Judge’s camp, who want to make sure the Yankees feel appropriately pressured to get a deal done …