MLB Trade Predictions: Dodgers To Make Huge Offer For Kris Bryant, Angels To Get Matthew Boyd

The Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to make a major acquisition this winter but will do so by trading for Kris Bryant while the Angels need starting pitching to become a playoff contender and will do so by acquiring Matthew Boyd.

After missing out on Anthony Rendon, the Dodgers have begun the process of trying to sign free agent third baseman Josh Donaldson. However, another team who lost out on Rendon is favored to sign the one-time Toronto Blue Jay.

That team is the Washington Nationals who are desperate to replace the outgoing player with another top third baseman. Due to the relative weakness of their farm system, free agency is really the only place for the Nats to turn for help at the hot corner.

They are almost certain to out-bid all other suitors and sign Donaldson to a contract that could be worth $100 million over four years, or perhaps three years at $75 million. Los Angeles simply doesn’t have the payroll to make such a deal work, at least unless they dump some salary.

Enter the Chicago Cubs and Kris Bryant. The Cubs are listening to offers for their star third baseman but will want a hefty return for him. They have already informed the Nationals they would want their top prospect, Victor Robles, in return, but according to Jon Heyman of the MLB Network, that’s too rich for Washington’s blood.

However, the Dodgers have a few players who they are willing to move including some great prospects. Gavin Lux is their darling of the farm system so he is off-limits but they could potentially move either pitcher Dustin May or catcher Keimer Ruiz.

Because of the fact they will miss out on Josh Donaldson, the Los Angeles Dodgers will trade for Kris Bryant.

Meanwhile, across town, the Angels are plotting moves of their own. The Halos landed Anthony Rendon to sort out their offense, but their rotation was their biggest issue of 2019 and remains more or less unsolved.

However, they could find a willing trade partner for a solid arm in the Detroit Tigers. Matthew Boyd is their best pitcher and represents surprising value in the trade market as he is cost-effective and under team control until 2023.

Boyd earned $2.6 million in 2019 and is arbitration-eligible but won’t earn anything like the mega-money that Gerrit Cole and Stephen Strasburg got in free agency. Since the Tigers are rebuilding, they wouldn’t ask for major league ready pieces but rather solid prospects who they can develop.

That sort of an asking price is within the realms of possibility for the Angels, even though they don’t have a great farm system. Therefore, expect the Halos to do what it takes to trade for Matthew Boyd.