Dodgers Acquire Esteury Ruiz, AL Stolen Base Leader

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired outfielder Esteury Ruiz from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for pitcher Carlos Duran. Ruiz, who led the American League with 67 stolen bases in 2023, will start the season in Triple-A, with the potential to be called up if he performs well. Despite his speed, Ruiz has struggled at the plate with a career OPS of .641, prompting the Dodgers to take a chance on his development. Duran, a 23-year-old pitching prospect, had a strong start to the season in Triple-A before the trade. The Dodgers' depth in pitching may lead to potential trades involving their starting pitchers as they manage their roster moving forward. Analysts suggest teams like the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees could be interested in acquiring pitchers from the Dodgers as they seek to bolster their rotations.