Dodgers predicted to break baseball by trading for $106M duo, Silver Slugger, Gold Glove winner originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for another World Series championship and enter 2026 as the clear favorites to win it all. While everything seems to be going well for the team, Blake Snell is likely to miss his Opening Day start.
“Dave Roberts said Blake Snell has been making progress in his throwing progression (which, for now, has still been limited to flat-ground sessions). But he acknowledged that, given the calendar, it’s gonna be ‘hard’ for him to be ready for Opening Day,” Dodgers beat writer Jack Harris wrote.
The Dodgers have a solid pitching rotation, but last season’s bullpen was hard to manufacture due to injuries and inconsistencies. This year, Los Angeles is looking for a more reliable bullpen. If injuries hit the rotation, FanSided’s Zachary Rotman believes the Dodgers could pursue a blockbuster deal with the Minnesota Twins for Byron Buxton and Joe Ryan.
“Joe Ryan is quickly establishing himself as one of the better starting pitchers in the American League, and Byron Buxton, when healthy, is an elite center fielder. They are clear upgrades in their rotation and outfield, respectively. Sure, they’d be losing valuable rotation depth by parting with guys like Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan and Gavin Stone, but look at their rotation with Ryan,” Rotman wrote.
Buxton has reportedly been unhappy with how the Twins have handled trade rumors this winter.
“It’s been months of upheavals for the Minnesota Twins and, because of roster changes, turnover in the dugout and front office, and an uncertain commitment level from ownership, the future is uncertain. That uncertainty hasn’t sat well with franchise cornerstone Byron Buxton, especially insofar as his future with the Twins is concerned,” CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry wrote.
Landing Buxton alone would already give the Dodgers an unfair advantage, but adding Ryan, who is emerging as a very strong starter, would make the team nearly unstoppable. Los Angeles is clearly willing to do whatever it takes to keep winning the World Series.
Even though it would be a blockbuster move, the trade could also benefit the Twins, especially under a new manager. If the Dodgers pull this off, competing with them in 2026 might feel nearly impossible.
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