This Dodgers-Athletics trade would give Los Angeles' lineup all the pop

For whatever holes the Los Angeles Dodgers have, at least they enter the second half knowing they have no problems at DH.

Then again, the only Shohei Ohtani-related problem is that a team — in this case, the Dodgers — can’t field 26 of him. Ohtani is well on pace for his fourth MVP in five years, entering Friday batting .276 with 32 homers, 60 RBI, and an NL-leading .988 OPS. 

That doesn’t mean the Dodgers can’t add a bat ahead of the July 31 trade deadline. In fact, The Athletic's Fabian Ardaya predicts that the Dodgers' biggest trade deadline acquisition will be a hitter, citing Andrew Friedman's desire to always add more firepower and all the pitchers Los Angeles has coming off the Injured List in the next few weeks. Even better, they may not even need to leave the state of California to get it done.

Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker entered the national consciousness earlier this week after impressing in the Home Run Derby. Rooker’s enjoying another solid season and, with 20 homers to his name at the break, has an outside chance at topping 35 for the second straight year. The 41-57 A’s are inching closer to waving the white flag yet again, so get ready to hear Rooker’s name mentioned in various trade pitches over the coming weeks despite the fact that he just signed a long-term extension over the winter.