One trade suggestion is shaking up the baseball world: the Los Angeles Dodgers should reportedly move top prospect Josue De Paula, among others, to acquire Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. This isn’t just some casual talk, folks. We’re talking about a potential seismic shift for one of baseball’s biggest franchises.
Dodgers Shift Into High Gear as Betts’ Future Position Looms
Just a couple weeks ago, it looked like the Dodgers had flat-out handed the Atlanta Braves a second bye in the playoffs after getting swept. Ouch, right? But hold up, because this team has done a total 180, flipping the switch and playing some seriously good baseball lately. It’s almost a carbon copy of last season, a complete remake. Jack Harris from California Post pointed out that it was at almost this exact point last year when the Dodgers pulled a similar move, bouncing back from a late-summer slump. On September 6, they got walked off for a second straight night by the Baltimore Orioles, tangled in a dogfight in the NL West after a brutal 22-32 slump. But then? They closed the regular season on a 15-5 tear, locked up the NL West crown in the final week of the season, and then went on to win nine of their first ten playoff games on their way to a second consecutive title. Talk about clutch!
Meanwhile, Mookie Betts has been absolutely coming up huge recently, currently holding down shortstop. But here’s the kicker: there’s a strong belief he might need to shift back to second base next year, or even sooner, purely because of his age. He’ll be 34 next season, and that’s exactly why this blockbuster trade idea is even on the table.
Elly De La Cruz: The Future Shortstop That Could Cost the Farm
Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation isn’t pulling any punches. He believes Los Angeles should absolutely trade the farm, including top prospect Josue De Paula and others, to land Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz. McKain laid it out plain: “Mookie has done an incredible job holding it down at shortstop these past few years. He’ll be 34 next season, and it might be time to move him back to second base sooner than later. I’d trade the farm including Josue De Paula for Elly De La Cruz,” adding that De La Cruz still has three arbitration years left.
This isn’t just a big trade, it’s an “absolute blockbuster,” to say the least. De La Cruz brings incredible upside to the table. He’s a plus bat from both sides of the plate, which is just insane to think about. The only real knock against him is his defense, but even that is getting better. He just made history with a throw on Tuesday! The guy’s a two-time All-Star who can do it all, making him the perfect candidate to be the Dodgers’ shortstop of the future. He also comes with a ton of years of team control, and has made just $4.5 million in his career so far. Imagine his game taking it to the next level alongside some of the best players ever in LA.
This isn’t a small decision, this is the kind of move that defines a franchise for years. The Dodgers are playing great baseball right now, echoing last season’s late-season dominance. But with Mookie Betts’ age raising questions about his long-term viability at shortstop, the pressure is on to secure that future. Will they pull the trigger on a deal that trades the farm for a dynamic two-time All-Star, or will they ride with what they have? The next few weeks could tell us everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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