Dodgers Rumors: LA linked to Angels in possible trade reunion to help rotation

The Dodgers are expected to welcome Blake Snell back to the rotation on Saturday after an almost four-month absence, finally bringing the rotation to six after months of injuries. Roki Sasaki and Tony Gonsolin are still out, but the excess the Dodgers indulged in during the offseason is paying off after a rocky July in which their nine-game division lead (through July 3) was whittled down to four.

To no one's surprise, the Dodgers are still going to be big buyers at the deadline. LA's rotation and bullpen just can't be healthy at the same time, and the bullpen's taken hit after hit through the last month. They need an outfielder/replacement for Michael Conforto to a lesser extent, but fans should expect most of the incoming news to include relievers.

Given all of that, it's a little weird that The Athletic linked the Dodgers to multiple starters, including former Dodger Tyler Anderson. A lot of the names and links on their "big board" don't really make sense or feel plugged in — Emmanuel Clase to the Diamondbacks? Jhoan Duran named as a fit for the Braves? — and a Dodgers trade for Anderson doesn't feel all that likely.

The Athletic linked Dodgers to former starter Tyler Anderson as trade deadline candidate

Anderson had an incredibly solid All-Star season with the Dodgers in 2022, when he pitched almost 180 innings for a 2.57 ERA. He left in free agency, turned down the Dodgers' $19.65 million qualifying offer, and signed with the Angels on a three-year, $39 million deal. Clearly, he would've made better money if he'd stayed with the Dodgers, but maybe he wanted the stability of a longer-term deal while staying in LA (kind of).

Although he's never gotten back to that same level of production, he's been decent enough this season (4.41 ERA over 112 1/3 innings), his last with the Angels. He'd be a fine rental for a contender in need of another starter, but the Dodgers rotation actually isn't in a bad place, despite a lot of worries.

If the Dodgers trade for a starter at all, it might be Sandy Alcantara, who they've been connected to on and off for years, but it's more likely that they're going to keep their focus on the bullpen. With the forecasted price of relievers this year, they might not be able to afford much else.