The Los Angeles Dodgers may not be three-peating, but they still have a roster loaded with stars for next year.
One of the knocks on the Dodgers' roster is that they are old, but the older players are still playing well. Their offensive woes in the final stretch of the season should not be a reason for the team to panic and blow it up, but at some point the youth in the organization needs to start making its way to the big leagues.
Josue De Paula is the team's top prospect and has already made his debut. However, if they want him to play more, they are going to have to move on from Teoscar Hernández. Similarly, there is another prospect who has seemingly done everything he can in the minors, but is being blocked by a veteran: James Tibbs III. The New York Mets should see if the Dodgers are willing to trade him to fill their need at first base.
The Mets lost Pete Alonso to the Baltimore Orioles and did not really replace his production. Tibbs has put up great numbers in the minor leagues and could be the kind of power bat the Mets lost with Alonso.
Tibbs slashed .287/.409/.532 this season in Triple-A, hitting 30 homers. There just is not a spot for him on the Dodgers right now.
Tibbs was acquired from the Boston Red Sox for Dustin May, and he has thrived ever since joining the Dodgers. He can play first base and the outfield, but with the Dodgers organization, he has started to play more first base. The Dodgers have Andy Pages, Kyle Tucker, Hernández and De Paula in the outfield, so Tibbs really has no chance there, but his chances at first base are just as slim.
The Dodgers have Freddie Freeman for at least one more season, but Tibbs is not going to wait around in Triple-A for the Dodgers to decide if they want to re-sign Freeman as a free agent. Additionally, with how Freeman is still playing, the Dodgers would be foolish to let him walk just to get Tibbs up.
The Mets could go get him and give him a chance to make the team out of spring training. The Dodgers could be losing plenty of pitchers in free agency, so perhaps the Mets could deal from some of their pitching prospects to get him.