Posted on January 28, 2017 by Bryan Zarpentine
Image via espn.com
When the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a trade for second baseman Logan Forsythe earlier this week, it was a huge sigh of relief for Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier. Throughout the offseason, Dozier has been the subject of trade talk, and for the most part, he’s been linked to the Dodgers. However, with Los Angeles acquiring a second baseman elsewhere, it all but assures Dozier will be back with the Twins in 2017, which is what he wanted all along.
No one can blame the Twins for listening to trade offers for Dozier. He’s under a team-friendly contract and coming off a season in which he hit 42 home runs and contributed 99 RBIs. With the Twins in the middle of a rebuilding project, trading Dozier could have allowed them to acquire several talented prospects who could contribute in the future. But the Twins were steadfast in maintaining a high price for Dozier that the Dodgers were never willing to meet. Now that the ordeal appears to be over, Dozier is relieved and ready for the season to get underway.
“I ain’t talking about trades,” Dozier said while at a fan fest event on Friday. “Obviously, a lot of things went on this offseason that, quite frankly, I don’t necessarily like. But at the same time, it is what it is. Now that the point is where everybody’s focused on Spring Training and trying to get this team where it needs to be, I’m here and I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Of course, Dozier recognizes that even though the Dodgers have found a second baseman elsewhere, he may not have heard the last of his name in the rumor mill. Even if he’s not moved before the season, the Twins could revisit the idea of trading him this summer if they’re not in contention or again next offseason as well.
“I’ve got two years left, I don’t want it to always be like a ping-pong ball or something, any time an opening comes up and all that,” Dozier said. “That’s kind of been the disappointment through everything. I don’t really know how to put it, but I don’t want to be [dealing with] that up until the trade deadline and next offseason and stuff. I’m here and I’m trying to help this team win games, and that’s what I’m here for.”
Aside from the Dodgers, there were a few other teams with interest in Dozier, including the Cardinals, Giants, and Braves. However, it’s unlikely any of those teams will be willing to meet Minnesota’s price for Dozier before the start of the season. Thus, the sigh of relief for Dozier when the Dodgers traded for Forsythe.
Unfortunately for Dozier, he may not be able to relax for long, as Minnesota still appears open to trading him if they get the right offer. “You can’t rule out anything. We constantly need to stay open-minded to potential opportunities to add value,” Twins chief baseball officer Derek Falvey said on Friday.
Dozier will no doubt be an important part of the Twins in 2017, but on paper, Minnesota doesn’t look to be a contender in the AL Central, which could put Dozier back on the trade block. For now, Dozier is happy to still be with the Twins and excited to start the season after a winter filled with trade rumors. But even if the trade talk has stopped for now, it’s unlikely that we’ve heard the last of Dozier in the rumor mill.
