Report: Dodgers willing to trade top prospect for Dozier

The Los Angeles Dodgers could be ready to dip into the farm for Brian Dozier.

With the club reportedly still set on acquiring the Minnesota Twins second baseman in a trade, the Dodgers have demonstrated a willingness to part with top pitching prospect Jose De Leon in a swap for the power-hitting infielder, sources told Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan.

De Leon is the No. 2 prospect in the Dodgers' minor-league system, second only to utility man Cody Bellinger, according to MLB Pipeline. Though the Twins are said to prefer Bellinger in a deal for Dozier, MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports a trade for De Leon is more likely.

The 24-year-old De Leon made his MLB debut for Los Angeles this past season, recording a 6.35 ERA in four starts for the club. He fared much better in the minors, however, crafting a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts in Triple-A.

Los Angeles has been heavily linked to Dozier all throughout the offseason in an effort to shore up the hole at second base left by free agent Chase Utley.

Adding Dozier would also help boost the club's subpar performance against southpaws. Of his 42 home runs in 2016, 11 of Dozier's long balls came off left-handers, against whom he also recorded a .282/.352/.613 slash line. The Dodgers as a team only mustered a .213/.290/.332 line against left-handed pitching as opposed to .264/.331/.441 against righties.