Los Angeles Dodgers should trade for Kluber, not Lindor

There have been rumblings on the Los Angeles Dodgers interest in Francisco Lindor but they should really be going after Corey Kluber instead.

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the mix for starter Corey Kluber. MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman also tweeted out that the Dodgers are more focused on Lindor.

But the Dodgers should really be prioritizing Corey Kluber over Francisco Lindor for a variety of reasons.

I completely understand why Dodgers fans would want Lindor over Kluber. If I were starting a team and Mike Trout wasn’t available I would certainly be taking a look at him as my shortstop. But the fact of the matter is the Dodgers already have the best roster in the National League, which includes a loaded infield that already includes Justin Turner, Corey Seager, Gavin Lux, and Max Muncy.

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Another reason why if I were the Dodgers, I wouldn’t trade for Lindor is that you would be giving up way more for Lindor than you would for Kluber.

Andrew Friedman would certainly have to give up prized infielder Gavin Lux, pitcher Dustin May, and even some have said that Cleveland might want Alex Verdugo.

But Kluber is coming off a year where he was hurt so his value is not as high as it would be after a fully healthy season or a season where he won the Cy Young.

I think the Dodgers would only be giving up maybe Dustin May or other pitchers instead of the best young players on their roster.

The more important factor for going after Kluber over Lindor is simply because they don’t need more offense, but they do need more starting pitching.

The Dodgers could very well lose Rich Hill and Hyun-Hin Ryu this year due to free agency and Clayton Kershaw has not been reliable in the postseason so that leaves only Walker Buehler as the only reliable starter. So obviously Kluber, who has the postseason and World Series experience with the Indians, would definitely strengthen one of their two biggest weaknesses.

Again Francisco Lindor is one of the best talents in the game and he will be paid in free agency, but Corey Hluber fits what the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to do more and they could get him for a cheaper price.