The Los Angeles Dodgers once again are in a position of strength as the MLB trade deadline looms Monday afternoon. They boast the best record in baseball and don’t have significantly obvious needs, but are flush with a deep farm system to pull tap into if necessary.
“First and foremost, it’s got to be something for our club that’s going to move the needle,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of a potential trade. “We’ve got talent all around the roster, so something that potentially moves the needle.
“The way we work, one-month or two-month rental, just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. If something were to happen, most likely it’s someone we would have control of. But again, those are just kind of parameters.
“Like I’ve said before, I love where we’re at, but Andrew and guys in the baseball ops. are kicking tires and talking to other guys. It takes two teams to make a deal, so we’ll see what happens.”
Echoing that sentiment, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said the team will act and remain involved in discussions for elite talent, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group
“I think from our standpoint we’re not viewing this deadline in a way that we have an acute need that we need to go out and address,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said as the hours counted down to Monday’s deadline, rescheduled a month later than usual due to the season’s late start.
“Our mindset is to be opportunistic in that if a really good player becomes available and fits and works, then we’ll be aggressive to pursue. But we feel really good about our roster and also the depth behind it. So we’re mindful not to do something just to do it and block guys that deserve an opportunity. Kind of similar to our approach at all the various trading cycles – we don’t want to miss out on a premium talent that gets moved without having a conversation.”
That has reportedly amounted to the Dodgers engaging in trade talks with the Texas Rangers for Lance Lynn, Cleveland Indians for Mike Clevinger, and they are also said to have inquired on Milwaukee Brewers closer Josh Hader.
If the Dodgers do have needs, starting pitching depth behind Clayton Kershaw and Walker Buehler, and a bat to combine opposing southpaws would be it. Though, in the case of the latter, L.A. could bet on the likes of Mookie Betts, Cody Bellinger, Max Muncy and Justin Turner improving to their career averages.
Starting pitching is a bit more murky, as Ross Stripling and Julio Urias have been inconsistent, Alex Wood remains on the 10-day injured list with no return in sight, and Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May are in experienced.
Odd trade deadline
With the start of the 2020 season being delayed, the trade deadline this year arrives just over one month into the 60-game schedule.
That was part of the reason Roberts recently said he was having fewer conversations with Friedman about trade deadline possibilities than in a normal season.
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