The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t content with just having the best roster in baseball. Now that they’ve built one of the game’s top farm systems, it’s time to leverage those assets for another blockbuster move.
FanSided’s Christopher Kline thinks the Dodgers should test the waters with the Houston Astros about a trade centered around Roki Sasaki for Cy Young candidate Hunter Brown. It’s the kind of bold move that could reshape both rotations.
“The Houston Astros shouldn’t really want or need to trade Brown, who’s just entering his first year of arbitration, but the team has shown a recent willingness to get out in front of future expenses — such as trading Kyle Tucker before he could leave as a free agent,” Kline wrote.
That’s the key insight here. Houston’s recent pattern suggests they’re not afraid to move stars before contract negotiations get expensive. Brown’s still under control through arbitration, but the Astros have shown they’ll make tough decisions when the right offer comes along.
Brown’s 2024 numbers make him an appealing target:
- 12-9 record with a 2.43 ERA
- 206 strikeouts over 185 innings
- 1.025 WHIP
- First-time All-Star selection
- Third place in Cy Young voting
What makes this different is the Dodgers’ depth. Sasaki comes with multiple years of control, which should appeal to Houston’s front office philosophy. The 24-year-old Japanese ace could step into Brown’s role while the Astros add more young talent to their system.
From where I’m sitting, the timing works for both sides. The Dodgers get an established MLB ace who’s already proven he can perform at an elite level. Houston gets a potential franchise cornerstone in Sasaki, plus whatever additional prospects Los Angeles would need to include.
The way I see it, Brown’s arbitration timeline creates an opportunity. He’s entering his first year, which means his salary’s about to jump significantly. For a Houston organization that’s shown it’s willing to move stars before big paydays, that’s worth considering.
All things considered, it’s exactly the type of deal the Dodgers always seem to find a way to make happen. Their farm system gives them the flexibility to pursue any player they want, and Brown fits their win-now mentality perfectly.
The question isn’t whether the Dodgers have the assets to make this work. It’s whether Houston believes Sasaki’s upside is worth trading an ace who just finished third in Cy Young voting.
