With less than two weeks before the MLB trade deadline on July 30, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to be among the more active teams.
However, outside perception may not line up with the organization’s thinking, as Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts have each highlighted the team’s injured players who are expected to return throughout the second half of the season.
But even with that confidence, the starting rotation appears to be a glaring need that should get addressed by the end of the month.
According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox, the Dodgers remain interested in Garrett Crochet amid their search for a top starting pitcher, but negotiations with the Chicago White Sox could prove problematic because of attempting to determine value:
“What they need is the same thing the Red Sox need. They’re expecting Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow to both come back this week, but the rotation is their priority as well, and the guy that is one everybody’s minds, including the Dodgers, is Garrett Crochet.
“Now the issue with Crochet is he’s already at his career high innings by more than 40. The White Sox value him as a No. 1 starter, but teams that are interested are saying, ‘Whoa, he’s not likely to be a starter the rest of the season.’ So that is going to create some negotiating difficulty.
“But if you’re asking what the Dodgers need most? What they would want most? No. 1 starter.”
Crochet is 6-6 with a 3.02 ERA and 0.95 WHIP across 20 starts this year. The 2024 season is Crochet’s first as a full-time starting pitcher, and his 107.1 innings pitched long surpassed a previous career high of 54.1, set in 2021.
Crochet missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery and appeared in just 13 games — all out of the bullpen — last year.
The 25-year-old is under team control via salary arbitration through the 2026 season. The White Sox reportedly have not made progress on talks with Crochet for a contract extension, which has further fueled speculation they will move forward with a trade at the deadline.
Dodgers trade offer for Garrett Crochet
The Dodgers reportedly made an early effort to address their rotation by trading for Crochet, but the White Sox are said to have quickly turned down the offer.
Dodgers trade targets
If not Crochet, the Dodgers conceivably could purse the likes of Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Erick Fedde, Zach Eflin or Yusei Kikuchi for their starting rotation.
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