The Dodgers were quiet before making the most substantial splash of the offseason this afternoon, signing the 2020 NL Cy Young Trevor Bauer to a multi-year deal. However, it doesn’t appear they are quite done yet. According to reports, the Dodgers are not completely out of the Marcell Ozuna sweepstakes.
After signing Trevor Bauer to a record-breaking deal, the Dodgers are reportedly still pursuing outfielder Marcell Ozuna https://t.co/1G2D3bBwPb
— SI MLB (@si_mlb) February 5, 2021
Mark Feinsand of MLB.com wrote earlier today that while the Braves remain the favorites to land Ozuna, the Dodgers, White Sox, and Rays remain in the mix. From the piece, regarding Los Angeles:
Had Justin Turner already re-signed, the Dodgers would not be a logical destination for Ozuna. But Turner and the Dodgers have been at a stalemate, leaving Los Angeles with some options. The Dodgers’ potential interest in Ozuna could be determined by the future of the DH in the NL, as their crowded outfield boasts Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, A.J. Pollock and Chris Taylor. But Bellinger could move to first base, shifting Max Muncy to second or third, opening left field for Ozuna in 2021. Taylor might also slide into the jack-of-all-trades role formerly held by Enrique Hernández. The versatility of the roster creates plenty of options.
Now, that’s the last thing the Braves need. Losing Ozuna to their biggest competition this late in the offseason would be a disaster, especially after the Dodgers just inked Bauer. The good news is this article from Feinsand was released less than an hour before it was announced that Bauer was heading to Los Angeles, so perhaps this takes them out of the Ozuna sweepstakes.
Still, until they bring back Turner, I wouldn’t count anything out. They have a hole in their lineup, and while Ozuna is probably too pricey after the Bauer signing, they’ve shown time and time again that they don’t care about the luxury tax. If Turner doesn’t re-sign with Los Angeles, I image they are still very much in play for Ozuna.
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