The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be one of the most aggressive teams ahead of the July 31 trade deadline, but it remains unclear where the front office will focus its pursuits.
Speculation has swirled surrounding the current state of the Dodgers bullpen, which is currently missing Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, Blake Treinen, and Tanner Scott. Kirby Yates and Scott have struggled in their first season with the Dodgers, and it’s unclear when or if the two relievers will turn a corner.
Scott is sporting a 4.14 ERA across 47 appearances this season, while Yates has posted a 4.45 ERA across 38 appearances.
Several insiders believe both of their struggles have forced the Dodgers to turn to the trade market for reinforcements. However, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman seemed to downplay the idea that the Dodgers will trade for a reliever at the deadline.
“For us, it’s much more about – if we can add a talented arm and the acquisition cost makes sense, we’ll do it,” Friedman said to the Orange County Register’s Bill Plunkett. “But it’s not necessarily with a role in mind as much as it’s a talented arm that can get big outs in October. We will run that play out as we have done every other year.”
While the bullpen is a glaring need for the defending champions, LA could address other areas of the roster instead. Either way, the Dodgers will likely make a significant move this summer as the team chases a consecutive World Series title.
