MLB Trade Rumors: Cody Bellinger, Miguel Andujar Available As Dodgers, Yankees Pursue Deals
Two of baseball’s best young players could potentially be traded at the 2018 MLB Winter Meetings. The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly open to dealing Cody Bellinger, and the New York Yankees are discussing moving Miguel Andujar in different scenarios.
Los Angeles has made all their outfielders available as they look to upgrade other parts of their roster. The prospect of signing Manny Machado has made Andujar expendable for the Yankees, and they could trade the third baseman in exchange for a starting pitcher.
Both teams have been linked to trade talks with the Miami Marlins for catcher J.T. Realmuto and the Cleveland Indians for either Corey Kluber or Trevor Bauer. The Yankees could potentially be involved in a three-way deal with Miami that gets them a starting pitcher.
Bellinger, 23, is just one season removed from winning the NL Rookie of the Year award as a unanimous choice with 39 home runs in 132 games. He didn’t showcase that same kind of power in 2018, but he was still productive with .260/.343/.470 splits and 25 homers in 162 games. Bellinger split time between first base and the outfield.
The Dodgers would rather trade Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig or Joc Pederson if they have to move an outfielder in a deal, but Bellinger has the most value.
Andujar, 23, finished second in the 2018 AL Rookie of the Year voting. He hit .297/.328/.504 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 149 games. He was arguably the team’s most important hitter when Aaron Judge missed much of the second half with a wrist injury.
New York decided not to trade Andujar before last season’s trade deadline, though The New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported that the organization has its share of concerns about the third basemen. Andujar only had 25 walks in his first season and was one of the worst defenders in baseball. His defense kept him out of the lineup in Game 4 of the ALDS when the Boston Red Sox eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs.
The Yankees are considered to be one of the top contenders to sign Machado. The Dodgers could trade one or two of their outfielders and sign Bryce Harper.
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