As the 2024 MLB trade deadline looms, the Los Angeles Dodgers could be among the teams making significant moves. One primary area where they might look to strengthen is their bullpen. With the late-season grind intensifying, the Dodgers could benefit from acquiring an impact reliever who can handle high-leverage situations and add depth to their late-inning strategy.
A reliable closer, a solid setup man — or both — could be a difference-maker in tight games in the playoffs, assuming the Dodgers do indeed clinch a berth. Teams with strong bullpen arms might be looking to unload players in exchange for future assets, and the deep Los Angeles farm system could make them an attractive trade partner.
Offensive Upgrades
In addition, the Dodgers might explore upgrading their lineup with a dynamic bat to enhance their offensive depth. Despite their strong roster when healthy, adding a versatile hitter who can contribute both power and average could provide a crucial boost as they head into the final stretch of the season. Whether it’s a solid outfielder or a middle infielder with pop, such a player would add another dimension to their lineup and help balance the offensive attack.
When stripped bare of key contributors, skipper Dave Roberts has been forced to construct lineups featuring players like Gavin Lux hitting in the three-hole and Jason Heyward batting cleanup, as made evident by the batting order in Sunday’s victory over the Houston Astros.
Obviously, Freddie Freeman will be back in the daily lineup very soon, as will outfielder Mookie Betts. Roberts told reporters on Sunday that Betts has been swinging a bat and could be cleared to take batting practice in the coming days. Roberts also added that another offensive gun — third baseman Max Muncy — is still dealing with oblique discomfort and remains without a clear timetable to return.
Nevertheless, having Betts join Freeman, Shohei Ohtani and Wil Smith at the top of the lineup is an instant upgrade that the Dodgers will certainly welcome.
A Solid Starting Rotation
As we have seen in recent years, there’s no such thing as too much starting pitching, especially in the eyes of the Dodgers. However, the idea that the club designated a serviceable lefty in James Paxton for assignment and later traded him to the Boston Red Sox might suggest the club is more comfortable with the state of the starting rotation, particularly when considering the recent emergence of youngsters like Landon Knack, Justin Wrobleski and River Ryan. Add in an effective Clayton Kershaw and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Dodgers could have one of the most formidable rotations in the National League.
If everyone’s perfectly healthy by the time October rolls around — and assuming the team doesn’t land an impact starter before Tuesday evening — the rotation could look something like Tyler Glasnow, Gavin Stone, Kershaw and Yamamoto, with your choice of Ryan, Knack, Wrobleski, Bobby Miller or even Walker Buehler to round out the starting five.
A Struggling Bullpen
With the recent struggle of Evan Phillips, the Dodgers definitely could benefit from a bonafide skilled closer with experience at the MLB level. When calculating in his last appearance against the Astros on Saturday, Phillips saw his ERA balloon to 11.35 over his last 11 games. While there might be a chance he improves, it’s something the Dodgers can certainly not bank on.
In the meantime, 37-year-old Daniel Hudson has been seeing the brunt of the high-leverage spots and save situations. Considering the veteran righty has had his fair share of injuries in recent seasons, the Dodgers don’t want to depend on his arm too much as the postseason nears.
MLB’s 2024 trade deadline is Tuesday, July 30, at 3:00 p.m. Los Angeles time.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
My thoughts on what this team needs by Tuesday:
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Great trade by the Dodgers getting a utility guy that actually can hit and steal bases plus is a switch hitter. I’ll gladly give up Miguel Vargas for Tommy Edman all day long. Now we have insurance in case Muncy doesn’t come back this year which he isn’t. I hope we don’t overpay for a starter and let all our young guys have their chance. Would love a late inning reliever like the Mason Miller if he hadn’t been stupid and broken his finger punching whatever he hit. I love letting the group of Knack, Miller, etc fight it out for the back end rotation spots. Hopefully we get Buehler back too. I’d love the Tigers lefty but he will cost the moon and all the stars and the White Sox big lefty wants a huge deal or he wont pitch in the playoffs. That rubs me the wrong way. He’s already doubled his longest innings per year this season as this is first year as a starter. Not sure I’m ready to hand him $200 million on 1/2 season of sample size as a starter. Not to mention we will be getting the other Japanese phenom pitcher next year to go with Yamamoto, Ohtani (if he pitches again) and Glasnow. I like where this club is. Just go find another bullpen arm and we are good.
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Edman hasn’t even played yet this season.
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He’s on rehab assignment but only DHing. Sounds like he’ll be ready about the same time as Muncy.
On the last day of the season.
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Nothing very exciting in either Edman or Kopech, if you ask me.
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Here’s the glass half full analysis:
Edman is a very good fielder, no matter where he plays. He gives us a good fielding option for center field who’s a league average hitter, as opposed to Outman who has completely lost his offensive abilities and Pages who is still out of position in center.
Kopech could wind up anything from a total disaster to the next coming of Gagne, depending upon what the Dodger pitching gurus are able to do with him. He throws over 100 mph (that’s the good news) but he walks way too many hitters and sometimes is a major wreck on the mound.
Vargas is out of position everywhere except 1B and DH and those positions are well covered.
The other two prospects are promising but years away.
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Dodgers are also getting Kopech as part of the deal, so there’s a bullpen piece for you, albeit a very inconsistent one. He throws over 100 mph but also walks too many guys.
Flaherty has been scratched from his start tonight. Dodgers are among the teams talking to the Tigers about him.
Edman can play 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF. He’s another CT3 who hits better but with less power and has won a Gold Glove award at 2B.
Both Edman and Kopech are controlled through next season.
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Good trade if you ask me. We didn’t really give up anything and anything we get from those 2 players is just bonus if you ask me. Vargas never impressed me although i’ve only been able to watch about 5-10 games this year with work so busy.
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