With the trade deadline unofficially kicking off when Randy Arozarena got traded on Thursday, July 25, and teams gearing up to buy or sell players, let’s look into the Los Angeles Dodgers and what positions they need to focus on at the deadline.
3 Positions the Dodgers Need to Improve at the Deadline
Starting Pitching
With the whole pitching staff in pieces right now even with a few returning, the Dodgers are looking to go out and get a high-leverage starter who could help them for the rest of the season and beyond. The current named targets for them right now are Tarik Skubal and Garrett Crochet, two players who have been so good for their respective teams this season.
The only problem with the Dodgers acquiring these two options is that they’re extremely expensive. Not just because of how good they are, but also because both Skubal and Crochet are under club control until 2026. If the Dodgers are not able to acquire even one of these players, that means going for players like Jack Flaherty and more who are impending free agents is the way to go. Acquiring by trade is what they need to do as when free agency arrives, the price of any of these players is going to be extremely high.
Shortstop
This position has been absolutely horrid for the Dodgers this year. Here’s a timeline.
At the start of the year, Gavin Lux was the shortstop, but since he couldn’t make any plays, Mookie Betts took over the shortstop position, and he became the second baseman. Now to Mookie Betts. Even though he’s played 20 fewer games than everybody else, he still ranks #18 in errors, with nine of them this season. That’s the most errors he’s ever made in any season, and we’re still only at the trade deadline. Then, once he got injured, Miguel Rojas took over the position. While Rojas hit and fielded great in his tenure at shortstop, he couldn’t hit like Mookie Betts, and he also got injured. Now, the Dodgers are using Nick Ahmed, and while he’s had a good first few games with Los Angeles, he’s not long term and he’s definitely not going to help in the playoffs.
So, the Dodgers have to go for a shortstop at the deadline. While Bo Bichette seems like the perfect fit, they’re not getting any improvement at that position. Instead, Luis Rengifo, the current 3rd baseman for the Angels who also plays shortstop, seems like the perfect player they can get to fill the shortstop position. He’s batting a very solid .308 this season with only 37 strikeouts and almost 100 hits.
Closing Pitcher
With how Evan Phillips has been doing this month, it’s certainly certain that the Dodgers need a closing pitcher who can help them lock down games. In fact, the Dodgers are the worst team in baseball, trying to lock down a win in the 9th inning. That needs to improve, and so here are two players that can do some good for the Dodgers in these situations.
Mason Miller and Tanner Scott. With Mason Miller put on the 10-day IL and many reports saying the A’s have scared teams off with the haul they want, Tanner Scott seems like the way to go. The Marlins have been selling all year. Luis Arraez is on the Padres. Jazz Chisholm is going to be traded in the next couple of days. It’s all but certain that an impending free agent like Scott, who could get a nice haul for the Marlins, is going to go.
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