5 possible landing spots for Dozier

Hey, did you know the Twins might trade Brian Dozier? It’s an issue that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention in the baseball reporting world … unless, of course, you count the daily speculation since the beginning of November.

Other than that? Crickets.

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But yes, it’s true. It could happen. The dude who hit 42 homers last season, breaking the single-season American League record for homers by a second baseman in the process, could be on the move. The Twins have a new front office with new ideas about how to get this club out of a long rut, and moving Dozier, who is under incredibly affordable team control the next two years (just $15 million total), would be both an emotionally painful parting with a franchise face and a sensible solution for a club in need of high-upside arms for the long haul.

The Twins have been fielding offers for Dozier all offseason, and they appear to be nearing a decision on whether to keep him or move him. So, let’s explore the teams that have been tied to the Dozier market and consider why they do or don’t make sense for his services.

Dodgers

Why they make sense: Enrique Hernandez, who had a .607 OPS last season, currently fronts the Dodgers’ depth chart at second base. And while Chase Utley provided serviceable offense (.716 OPS, 14 homers, 26 doubles) last season and is still available, at 38, he poses nowhere near the offensive threat Dozier does. Furthermore, the Dodgers struggled mightily against left-handed pitching last season, and Dozier has a career .854 OPS against lefties.

Why they don’t: This club won 91 games with a very similar roster to the one it currently possess, so Dozier could be viewed as overkill. Furthermore, this is a club that has greatly valued its wealth of prospect pieces, because of the upcoming luxury-tax thresholds and increased penalties that will make cost-controlled talent so vital.

Trade chips: It’s no secret Jose De Leon, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect per MLBPipeline.com, would be part of a Dozier deal, as he’s precisely what the Twins need. The hangup has been how to round it out, with MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reporting in December that the Twins also wanted, L.A.’s No. 1 overall prospect, Cody Bellinger. Second-base prospect Willie Calhoun, outfielder Alex …

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