The Los Angeles Dodgers have boasted one of the most talented rosters in MLB for years, leading to their second World Series title in five years.
They achieved this feat without one of their top pitchers, who missed all of last season recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2023.
Now that the Dodgers have proven they can succeed without him, speculation is growing about whether the team will trade him soon.
The pitcher in question is Tony Gonsolin, who had a breakout 2022 season but struggled in 2023 before missing all of last year due to surgery. Healthy and ready to return, the question remains whether he will do so with the Dodgers.
Gonsolin, a ninth-round pick by the Dodgers in 2016, has spent his entire career with the team. Over five seasons, he has posted a 34-11 record, a 3.19 ERA, and 349 strikeouts.
He has been a reliable starter, but he could become the odd man out with the Dodgers’ deep pitching rotation and Gonsolin’s injury history. One team that could be interested in Gonsolin is the New York Mets.
The Mets went 89-73 last season and made it to the NLCS, but their pitching struggles were a significant factor in their early exit.
After dealing with injuries and inconsistency on the mound, the Mets are looking to bolster their staff. A healthy and recovered Gonsolin could be the solution they need.
Known for his excellent control, a fastball that tops out at 91-92 mph, and a consistently strong changeup, Gonsolin excels at limiting contact and frustrating hitters with his off-speed pitches.
In return, the Dodgers could get a few different things.
They could get some young prospects.
The Dodgers are obviously great now, but if they want to ensure they stay this way and still have some young guys developing, they should look to get a few prospects.
This could also give them some depth if the injury bug hits. One name that has been in trade talks a lot is Brett Baty, a 25-year-old third baseman.
Pitcher Tylor Megill is another name the Dodgers could possibly want back in return for Gonsolin.
Aside from one of those two players, a possibility is a Triple-A guy or two, and some competitive balance picks are also possible as a return for Gonsolin. Los Angeles could get some prospects and picks for the future and maybe even another pitcher.
The Mets would get a really good pitcher who is going to be back and healthy to help fix their pitching woes.
If the Dodgers want to move off of Gonsolin, the Mets may be the team to go to, as they have multiple players and prospects that they could be interested in.
They know that they have great pitching and a World Series caliber roster without Gonsolin, so they might as well get some players for the future if they move off of Gonsolin is a Dodger for now, but it will be interesting to see if he is still in the same jersey at playoff time.