The O's are pretty much an open book for the upcoming season. Ask any fan, talking head, or prognosticator what the O's need to compete for an AL or WS title and they will tell you that a top of the rotation starter is an obvious choice.

I'm going to look at some teams that I think we match up with and offer what I think I'd be willing to give up to bring back that missing piece. Then you can simply tell me who would say no to the deal. It would be great if you weren't an ass about it, but I know we all do not value players the same way, so I'm bound to find some of you ready to question my baseball acumen, dedication to the O's, or even sanity.

I'll start with the team who just pulled in one of the most heavily pursued free agents in Yamamoto. Less than a week ago, they also traded for Glasnow, and will get Ohtani on the hill next year.

The guys that could break camp as the starting 5 for the Dodgers would be: Yamamoto, Glasnow, B. Miller, Yarborough, and Buehler. That's pretty stout, but look who else is in the mix. Does anyone think that Kershaw wont be around by the All-Star break? Hell, he is going to want to be part of this. You also have Sheehan, who was pretty effective when pressed into action after seeing Buehler, May, and Gonsolin all lost for the season. At 6'5" 220 and 24 years old, he could use a little better BB rate, but the 11 homers in 60 innings are what saw him pitching to 4.92 ERA, while only giving up 46 hits and .210 BA last year. I watched him for a couple of innings last year (which obviously makes me an expert) and he can bring it. He's got a bit of a presence out there as well.

Gonsolin is likely out for the year, but May should be ready to go about half way into next year. My somewhat glowing review of Sheehan might lead you to believe that he is my target, but he is my misdirection. I go to the Dodgers and ask about his availability. I ask them if they are confident that their middle infield is set with Betts, Lux, and Rojas? I believe they tell us how Sheehan is "Part of their future plans", and turn down my offer of Ortiz, even up.

This is where I ask them if they are so concerned about their future, what about Buehler? He's on the final year of his contract and will not be affordable with what they are paying the rest of the rotation, besides, you already have "Part of your future plans" to step in until Kershaw decides to grace them with his presence. They tell us that they'd need more for Buehler, than for Sheehan, which gets the wheels rolling a bit. This is when we start pointing out that their OF, would currently have two starters that can't hit lefties. You can look it up, Heyward and Outman are nearly brutal against lefties.

The Dodgers have no choice but to be in "Win now" mode for the next 10 years. My offer to them would be Major League established Austin Hayes, the only real SS they would have on their team in Ortiz, and Wells, to absorb some innings in my asking price of Buehler, May, and Grove.

Dodgers get a solid OF (better than Margot in my mind), who can play everyday should Outman's rookie season have been an outlier, or Hayward reverts to the kind of hitter he had been prior to last year. They might have their SS for the next 10 years if Lux proves to not be the answer and they get a swing starter/someone they can have focus on ramping it up in a relief role. All of the guys that they receive would have multiple years of control.

Dodgers lose a rotation piece on his free agent year, along with another arm that they would struggle to keep when he is FA eligible in 2025 and a guy that has a similar background to other bullpen arms that we have turned into pretty good options. Ohtani would be taking someone's rotation spot next year anyway.

O's get their top of the rotation guy, albeit for one contract year. We didn't see Buehler last year, but he has had Cy like seasons in the past. They'd have another potential top of the rotation guy for the 2nd half of this year, and full season next year. So, with Buehler this year and May next year, it is like having control of a top of the rotation guy for 2 years. We'd get a project in Grove.

We'd lose a starting OF, a SS that most others seem to find more value in than what we showed in him last year, and an arm that could help as a starter or reliever. Hays' departure would open up a space for a prospect.

I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't see the Dodgers needing high level prospects in return? They are going to be going pedal to the metal for the foreseeable future and will be looking for Major League ready players.

Who says no? Feel free to tell me other options in a matchup between these two teams.