This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
HOUSTON — The Trade Deadline is right around the corner, and the Dodgers are expected to be one of the busiest teams in the Majors up until the final whistle at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday.
Despite having a healthy 7 1/2-game lead over the Padres (55-50) for first place in the National League West and almost certainly making the postseason once again, the Dodgers (62-42) know they can still find ways to improve a roster that has been battered with injuries and inconsistencies.
At the end of the day, anything short of a World Series title would be labeled as a failure for the Dodgers. With that level of pressure, there’s always room to improve, and that’s what the Deadline is for.
Let’s take a look at where things stand with Los Angeles and its needs before the Deadline.
Starting rotation
It was a good week for the Dodgers. Tyler Glasnow (lower back) returned from the 15-day injured list on Wednesday, and Clayton Kershaw made his season debut on Thursday after undergoing offseason left shoulder surgery. In a few weeks, the Dodgers should also be getting Walker Buehler (right hip inflammation) back from the 15-day IL.
Even with all that, the Dodgers could use more starting pitching help.
Both sides continue to downplay it, but the Dodgers will have to continue to monitor Glasnow’s innings the rest of the way, given he’s going to fly past his career high (120, set last season with the Rays). The same goes for talented rookie Gavin Stone, who has been an integral part of the rotation this season (3.19 ERA in 18 starts).
Then there’s the uncertainties around Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto (60-day IL, right triceps tightness) who said his “goal” is to return at some point this season. When that could be remains a mystery.
Because of that, the Dodgers are in the market for a top-end starting pitcher. White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet is the most obvious target. Crochet has been one of the most dominant starters in the Majors this season (3.07 ERA in 21 starts), but there are serious questions surrounding how effective he’ll be down the stretch and into the postseason because of his heavy workload. Crochet, who threw 73 innings in the Majors from 2020-23, has thrown 111 1/3 innings in ’24.
Thinking of his long-term health, Crochet and his representatives at CAA have told teams that the left-hander will not accept a bullpen assignment or entertain a hybrid role unless he agrees to a contract extension with the club that trades for him.
The Giants are reportedly listening on two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, adding another intriguing name to the trade market. The Dodgers showed interest late in Snell’s free agency this winter. In fact, after months of absolutely no traction, the Dodgers were prepared to give Snell more money than he got for the Giants, sources tell MLB.com, but they just ran out of time as the left-hander signed a two-year, $62 million deal with San Francisco. Given that the Giants and Dodgers have made just three trades since both teams moved to the West Coast, a deal for Snell is highly unlikely.
Outfield help
Over the past few weeks, the Dodgers and Rays were engaged in multiple conversations centered around outfielder Randy Arozarena. Talks heated up at times, but no deal ever came together. On Thursday, Arozarena was traded to the Mariners, putting a significant dent in the outfield options for the Dodgers.
White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is arguably the most talented of the bunch, but he has a long injury history and has been inconsistent at times. Robert’s teammate, Tommy Pham — who will almost certainly be traded by the White Sox before the Deadline — would be a cheap acquisition for the Dodgers and one that makes a lot of sense. Pham can play against both righties (career .759 OPS) and lefties (.834), and he has a strong postseason track record (.846 OPS in 31 games), including helping the D-backs make a run to the World Series last season.
More relievers?
Over the next couple of weeks, the Dodgers should be getting Brusdar Graterol (right shoulder inflammation), Michael Grove (right intercostal strain) and Ryan Brasier (right calf strain) back from the injured list. That will be a huge boost for a Dodgers’ bullpen that has looked like it has been out of gas for weeks.
But just because the Dodgers have guys coming back doesn’t mean they’ll be afraid to add. If Los Angeles engages on a deal for Robert or Pham, Michael Kopech could be someone who gets included. Marlins left-hander Tanner Scott has also been a name linked to the Dodgers, but Miami’s asking price remains high.
Other arms could emerge, and the Dodgers will likely be a very busy team over the next four days.