MLBTR’s new team-by-team deadline preview series (available to Front Office subscribers) continues with a look at the reigning World Series champions, who are laser-focused on defending their title. The Dodgers have again weathered a storm of pitching injuries to take control of the NL West, and at this point are looking primarily at adding a few finishing touches to lengthen what is already a championship-caliber roster.
Record: 56-37 (99.3% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
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Potential needs: Relief pitching, infield depth, outfield depth, rotation depth
In an example of how deadline plans can quickly evolve, this list of needs would have been shorter if the Dodgers' outlook piece had been written even a week ago. Just within the last few days, Max Muncy sustained a bone bruise in his left knee that will keep him out until mid-August, Enrique Hernandez was placed on the 10-day injured list due to lingering elbow inflammation that has been bothering the utilityman for over a month, Tommy Edman suffered a hairline fracture in his right baby toe after being hit by a pitch, and Teoscar Hernandez is day-to-day after fouling a ball off his left foot.
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Target at least two TOR starters, with long injury histories. I see this happening.
Brandon Woodruff anyone?
Jacob deGrom anyone?
Both?
Max and JV, lol.
So target two pitchers with their own injury history in DeGrom and Woodruff to help with the injury issue?
I forgot Jack Flaherty. Could trade away a couple more useful pieces for Jack and his weird contract.
Boston’s Alignment: Another tone-deaf post of yours.
Do you pay attention to the standings? The Tigers are a better team than the Dodgers and are in first place, so they’re not going to trade Flaherty.
@Baron
The Tigers have won more games (3). That does not equate to the Tigers being a better team than the Dodgers.
B-Sal: It does until the Dodgers prove otherwise.
A small lead in current standings points as much to the Tigers and Dodgers respective division competitors as much as it does to anything else. When Tigers met the Dodgers to open the season, the Tigers were swept. Looking forward to October.
I don’t think the Dodgers want Flaherty again!!! He’s so terrible this year and can’t trust him!!
The Tigers aren’t trading one of their top SP’s during their run to the playoffs.
(Again)
Brewers will secure a WC spot at minimum, but if Texas falters deGrom or Eovaldi to LAD would not be a shock. Phillies going after Clase also foreseeable since they are after a closer.
Boston’s Alignment: The Blue Jays are in first place, so they’re not going to trade their starting pitchers.
And Woodruff and deGrom don’t pitch for them anyway.
Probably add to the bullpen or another starter. Dodgers are always willing to stack up on arms.
Honestly they should just bet the farm on Skenes and get it over with
Rushing
De La Paula
Hope
Freeland
Ferris
Sheehan
Stone
Ryan
Noah Miller
Bobby Miller as a throw in hoping the Bucs can fix him.
Trade Skenes for a kings ransom
Hoard the starting picture market
Trade off starting pitching cause you’ll have like 15 guys after the the trade for other needs
Build up the young core of your dreams
You’d hafta put Sasaki on the top of the list for any consideration….
Sure toss him on the altar too
They just traded no one for Tyler Glasnow
5 strong innings today. Good to have Glasnow back.
Trade Mookie before it’s too late. One of the most overrated players in recent memory.
Thank god you’re not in charge.
Paul DePodesta?
RIDICULOUS opinion.
Where did this comment come from, dreifort? In the psychoanalysis biz, we call that counterintuitive. Are you ok?
Wonder if Arte would trade Trout for salary relief and a few mid-level prospects….
@jerry hairston. Sure if arte was the gm, and trout didn’t have a NTC. Plus they dont need salary relief they’re under the 1st tax. They need to trade him for a new owner, some scouts, coaches, and some gym equipment
Unless there is some undisclosed issue with Snell and Sasaki I think they just stick with plan to have the starters return over time. Similarly, no need to panic about the lineup. Scott blew a save today, and Yates took the L…with the news on Kopech they will need to bolster the pen.
Can’t ever have enough starting pitching. Never know who’ll be available in October. Especially with this team….
Kelly. Joe Kelly. haha
Bednar for Rushing
Outman and Bobby Miller for Miguel Vargas and Luis Robert
What??? Now you need a premium account to read these articles…. Hmm and you wonder where all the readers will go….. btw msn homepage has all the articles you link. So. Bye bye. – loyal reader since the early 2000’s
Bye. Miss you already.
With Scott and Kirby both blowing todays game. They definitely need to trade for a closer.
Scott just doesn’t have the nasty stuff to close out games.
And they don’t need any bats. They just need to finally switch up the lineup because it has been inconsistent all season long.
Finally take Ohtani out of the leadoff spot so his home runs actually mean something.
1. Kim
2. Smith
3. Ohtani
4. Freeman
5. Pages
6. Teo
7.Betts
8. Edman
9. Rojas
1997 called, they want their lineup structure back
The LAD are the only team in baseball to bat their best HR hitter in the lead-off slot. So it is kind of a 2025 issue.
Exactly correct!
Scott’s stuff is fine, his location is TERRIBLE and he needs to use his slider more often and effectively.
Move Pages into the 7 slot, Betts into the 2 spot, and Smith into the 5 hole. Then, you have a winner. Batting Betts 7th is ridiculous.
Betts has been hitting the 2nd spot and he’s been terrible.
Might want to take another look at Betts. Freddy has been in a slump. Should we bat him 9th? Oh wait. Ohtani is six for 40. We need to bat him ninth. What to do? What to do?
Betts has 3 home runs and 15 rbi in the past 40 plus games as our highest paid player.
Where is my reply? So frustrating!
Dodgers need health, a rested Mookie, a rested Teo and a left fielder. Anything else is redundant. Teo is atrocious in right but if he’s healthy and rested the bat will car him. Edman needs to get healthy and return to center, Kim to 2nd base full time. Best roster in baseball with yanks, Mets, padres a distant 2nd. Detroit is not better than the Dodgers.
“Cot’s puts the Dodgers’ actual estimated tax bill at around $158.5MM, which (according to Spotrac) is more than 15 teams are spending on their payrolls.”
[Insert canned comment about how the economics of the game are totally fine and square here.]
All luxury tax money goes to revenue share with the have-nots.