Published on December 10, 2023

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been making waves during the offseason with their signings and trades. The latest development involves a potential trade with the New York Yankees aimed at creating room on the Dodgers' 40-man roster for newly acquired Shohei Ohtani and Joe Kelly.

Shohei Ohtani, the highly sought-after Japanese player, recently made headlines by announcing his intention to sign a massive 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers. While the deal is not yet official, it is seen as a formality pending Ohtani's physical examination.

In addition to Ohtani, the Dodgers sealed a one-year contract with Joe Kelly for the 2024 season earlier this month. To accommodate both players, the Dodgers need to clear space on their 40-man roster.

According to sources, the Dodgers are working on a trade with the Yankees to create these roster spots. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Yankees are expected to receive two players from the Dodgers' 40-man roster in exchange for a prospect not currently on their own roster. The specific players involved in the trade have not been disclosed.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post confirmed the report, adding that the trade between the Dodgers and Yankees has been agreed upon and is currently undergoing a physical review. Should the trade be finalized, it is anticipated that the Yankees will trade a prospect and an end-of-roster pitcher for the two Dodgers players.

The Dodgers' 40-man roster became crowded in part due to decisions made regarding their arbitration-eligible players. Additionally, the team made moves to protect certain prospects, namely Nick Frasso, Landon Knack, and Hunter Feduccia, from the Rule 5 Draft.

The recent signing of Jason Heyward brought the Dodgers' 40-man roster to its full capacity, necessitating the need for trades to create space for Ohtani and Kelly.

With the Dodgers' surplus of bullpen talent, names such as Victor González, Bryan Hudson, and Gus Varland have emerged as potential trade candidates. On the position player side, Jonny DeLuca could address the Yankees' need for an outfield defensive upgrade following their acquisition of Juan Soto.

Additional Dodgers prospects that could be involved in the trade include Michael Busch, Jorbit Vivas, Andy Pages, and Ricky Vanasco, although the latter recently signed a Major League contract after initially joining the team on a Minor League deal.

The impending trade with the Yankees is yet another indication of the Dodgers' aggressive offseason strategy in their pursuit of a championship. As fans eagerly await the official announcement, the team remains focused on shaping a roster capable of bringing glory to Los Angeles once again.

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