After a rough start to the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten back into the playoff race, putting themselves in a position to once again be buyers at the non-waiver trade deadline.
The biggest name that will be available at the deadline is Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado, who the Dodgers are considered the favorites by many to land.
A bigger need for the Dodgers right now might be pitching though, and they have also been linked to Miami Marlins relievers Kyle Barraclough, Adam Conley and Drew Steckenrider.
Instead of adding relievers though, they could look to strengthen their starting rotation, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, they are pursuing Detroit Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer:
The #Dodgers are doubling down: They not only are aggressively pursuing #Orioles SS Manny Machado, but also #Tigers starter Michael Fulmer. The #Orioles, heavily scouting the Dodgers' minor-league system, want Class A pitcher Dustin May included in any package of prospects.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 3, 2018
Fulmer was the American League Rookie of the Year in 2016 and then an All-Star in 2017, but has taken a bit of a step back so far this season. In 16 starts, Fulmer is 3-7 with a 4.20 ERA, 4.04 FIP and 1.25 WHIP while striking out 80 and walking 30 in 94.1 innings of work.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman recently said that the team may not need to add a starter at the deadline this year considering how many capable starters they already have on the roster.
Given the injury history of Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill though, and the potential of moving Kenta Maeda to the bullpen where he has proved he can be a shutdown reliever in the postseason, it would not be surprising to see them add another starter to the mix.
Fulmer is only 25 years old and would be under club control until 2023, so even though he is having a bit of a down year, the prospect cost to acquire him would still likely be pretty high.
Machado, on the other hand, is a free agent at the end of the year, so the prospect cost may not be as high to acquire him.
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