The Los Angeles Dodgers currently have the best record in Major League Baseball and lead the National League West by nine games over the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants.
The defending World Series champions are riding high despite several injuries that could have derailed them this year. Their most recent injury issue came on Wednesday when Max Muncy suffered a bone bruise in his knee.
Muncy is expected to be out several weeks. The Dodgers now find themselves in need of a third baseman.
Chris Landers of FanSided noted that Los Angeles could now target St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado.
“On paper, at least, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado would seem to check a lot of boxes. He’s an eight-time All-Star and future Hall of Famer, for starters, and he remains one of the better defenders at the position in the entire league. Plus, he’s a Southern California native, drafted by the Colorado Rockies out of Lake Forest’s El Toro High School, and he’s made no secret of the fact that he’d love to play for the Dodgers at some point before his career is through,” Landers wrote.
Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Arenado has struggled at the plate this season, slashing .247/.306/.395 with 10 home runs, 41 RBI and a .701 OPS. However, he remains fully capable of playing Gold Glove caliber defense.
The Cardinals aren’t sure whether they’ll buy, sell or hold just yet. They might want the Dodgers to pay down the majority of Arenado’s contract.
The Dodgers can afford to do that, and would also be adding arguably the best defensive third baseman in Major League Baseball. The eight-time All-Star grew up a fan of the Dodgers and would have the opportunity to make a homecoming of sorts.
If the Cardinals buy, then this move likely won’t happen, but with selling still on the table, the Dodgers could potentially pounce on the opportunity to land a star they had their eyes on back in 2023.
It will be interesting to see if this potential move comes to fruition.
More MLB: Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani gets major awards prediction from Bleacher Report
