Twins All-Star second baseman Brian Dozier’s name has been floating around the rumor mill for the past month after a 41 home run season.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been kicking tires with Minnesota since the MLB Winter Meetings earlier this month and it sounds like the Dodgers are serious about landing Dozier.
According to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, the Dodgers are willing to include top pitching prospect Jose De Leon in a deal for Dozier.
Sources: Dodgers have shown willingness to include top pitching prospect Jose DeLeon in a deal for Brian Dozier. Would be strong headliner.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 16, 2016
Baseball Prospectus Editor-in-Chief Aaron Gleeman was also told De Leon could be available.
Asked around on this again. Twins and Dodgers still talking. Sense is they're haggling over what comes with De Leon. https://t.co/Fn6LGq2z9I
— Aaron Gleeman (@AaronGleeman) December 15, 2016
The trade also makes sense considering how desperate the Twins are for starting pitching and the fact that the Dodgers are looking for a second baseman.
Jon Heyman of MLB Network said multiple teams are calling about Dozier, but the Dodgers remain the most logical suitor.
multiple teams have been sniffing around about dozier. dodgers remain most logical though.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 16, 2016
Both Passan and Gleeman agree the Twins want more than just De Leon which confirms what Derek Falvey and Thad Levine said earlier this month that the team would have to be “blown away by an offer for Dozier.”
A shoulder and ankle injury limited De Leon to just 86 innings in the minor leagues but in those 16 starts he had an ERA of 2.61 and averaged 11 strikeouts per 9 innings.
De Leon was called up to the big leagues in September and made four starts, including a 9 strikeout win over the Padres in his MLB debut.
