The Los Angeles Dodgers made four moves before Thursday’s MLB trade deadline, addressing a few pressing needs while shedding players who may have been invaluable as this year’s playoff push approaches. The moves were headlined by the acquisition of Minnesota Twins reliever Brock Stewart and the departure of starter Dustin May to the Boston Red Sox.
Stewart Trade Provides Immediate Bullpen Help
The most impactful deal saw the Dodgers swap struggling outfielder James Outman to the Twins for the right-handed reliever Stewart in a one-for-one trade. Stewart, 33, has posted a decent 2.38 ERA across 34 innings this season with a 30% strikeout rate and has blown just one save opportunity while recording 14 holds.
For a Dodgers bullpen that ranks 22nd in MLB with a 4.24 ERA and has been decimated by injuries to key arms like Evan Phillips, Michael Kopech, and Brusdar Graterol, Stewart represents immediate high-leverage help. The right-hander features a 96 mph fastball and gets significant swing-and-miss on both his sweeper and changeup.
The trade marks a homecoming of sorts for Stewart, who began his career with the Dodgers as a 2014 sixth-round pick before being lost on waivers to Toronto in 2019. Although it took him several years to find his groove as a bonafide reliever, he’s emerged as a dominant late-inning weapon since joining Minnesota.
May Heads to Boston for Top Prospect
In a somewhat surprising move, the Dodgers dealt starter May to Boston in exchange for lefty-hitting outfield prospect James Tibbs III and and 22-year-old right-handed hitting outfield prospect Zach Ehrhard. May, who is in his walk year, had struggled to a 4.85 ERA in 104 innings while working his way back from UCL surgery that cost him the entire 2024 season.
Tibbs, 22, was ranked as Boston’s No. 5 prospect and represents the type of high-upside talent the Dodgers are known to covet. The former first-round pick out of Florida State has shown impressive plate discipline improvements during his college career and offers solid power to all fields, although he’s hitting just .232 this season between High-A and Double-A.
Three-Team Deal Adds Pitching Depth
The Dodgers also participated in a complex three-team trade with Cincinnati and Tampa Bay, acquiring left-handed pitching prospect Adam Serwinowski from the Reds, plus reliever Paul Gervase and catcher Ben Rortvedt from the Rays. In return, they sent catcher Hunter Feduccia to Tampa Bay.
Serwinowski, a 6-foot-5 lefty, ranked 10th in Cincinnati’s system according to MLB Pipeline and features a plus fastball-slider combination. The 21-year-old represents the type of developmental lottery ticket the Dodgers excel at maximizing, even if he ultimately profiles as a reliever.
Call Strengthens Outfield
The Dodgers also acquired outfielder Alex Call from the Washington Nationals in exchange for two pitching prospects, Eriq Swan and Sean Paul Linan. The move essentially replaced James Outman’s roster spot with a more reliable veteran option.
Call, 30, brings versatility and improved plate discipline to the Dodgers’ outfield mix. He’s hitting .274/.371/.386 over 237 plate appearances this season and can play all three outfield positions, though he’s best suited for corner work. The right-handed hitter profiles as a platoon partner for left-handed hitting Michael Conforto and provides a significant upgrade over fringe options like Esteury Ruiz.
With two minor league options remaining, Call gives the Dodgers roster flexibility while being controlled through the 2029 season. His .800+ OPS against left-handed pitching this season makes him a valuable complementary piece.
Final Assessment
While none of these moves qualify as blockbusters, they address multiple organizational needs without sacrificing top prospects. Stewart immediately slots into high-leverage situations and provides the kind of reliable arm the Dodgers desperately needed as they push toward October. Call gives them a steady veteran presence in the outfield with platoon upside.
The May trade, while perhaps overdue given his struggles and impending free agency, brings back a legitimate prospect who could contribute to future championship runs.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
I’m really happy that Outman, Feduccia and May (as a starter) will now have opportunities they weren’t going to get here and I’m pleased with the returns we got for them.
To most Dodger fans this deadline may be a huge letdown, especially in view of what Preller did in SD, but time will tell if Friedman was wrong to basically sit on his hands. A lot of us were really hoping for Kwan or one of the Durans but it wasn’t to be. If we get most of our guys back healthy by October we should still be a force in the playoffs.
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We definitely can’t say that Outman and May didn’t have their fair share of chances. Feduccia will likely be a career backup, anyway. It will be interesting to see if they try to have a look at Rushing in left field so he gets a reasonable number of ABs. I honestly thought that Rushing would be the one to go.
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I view the Dodger front office as very smart, so in my mind there is no possible way they plan to hold on to Rushing to have him play 2-3 times a week.
It’s going to be a long while before there is any chance for him to DH on a regular basis and I’m guessing that Freddie sticks around for at least a couple of years when his current contract is up.
So that leaves the possibility that Rushing gets regular reps in LF or maybe even at 3B……………….or they could have Smith take some reps at 3B on a semi-regular basis.
One way or the other, both Smith and Rushing need to play on a regular basis or it’s crazy to keep Rushing on the roster.
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My Smith-Rushing comments refer to next year and forward from there. I don’t expect any change in what they are currently doing to happen in 2025.
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Will Smith played a good bit of 3B in college along with catching but he still has another 2-3 years behind d the plate. That means Rushing needs to get playing time in LF some. I like that we didnt go crazy and that we got prospects for May who was not getting a contract offer after the year anyway. Glasnow and Snell have to get on the mound and pitch well. Sasaki won’t be back this year.
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I think Sasaki is now or will soon be starting a throwing program so he could actually be back in September. That said, I consider him a non-factor for the playoffs and assume he won’t be on the post season roster.
We need to get through September with Yamamoto, Shohei, Glasnow, Snell, Kershaw and Sheehan in the rotation and Wrobo as a backup for anyone who might go down with an injury.
Then, come playoff time, we pick the four best starters and move the other two to the bullpen. Of course, with the exception of Sheehan, none of the other five will be thrilled with going to the pen. I guess if I was going to be a pessimist, I could just say that by October one of those five will be injured and the problem will solve itself.
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Only one of those five?
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I said pessimist, not extreme pessimist.
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Very happy for Outman and Feduccia. I hope they fare well with their new teams. A change of scenery may be what May needs. I wish him well. I feel bad for Ryan Ward. Was hoping he would get traded to a team that would give him a look in the show.
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Ward was Rule 5 eligible last winter but nobody took him. He’ll be eligible again this winter and I can’t believer, with the year he’s having, that someone won’t take a chance on him.
I don’t know how the rules work if he isn’t drafted and how long he’d be a prisoner of the Dodger system, but like I said, I can’t believe someone won’t roll the dice this time.
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Jeff, do you remember John Lindsey? I think he was like 35 years old when the Dodgers finally called him up in 2010. Dude had an average of like .360 with 45 homers at Triple-A every year.
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I do remember John Lindsey. The thing I remember most was that smile. He couldn’t believe he was finally getting a shot. Great story even though it didn’t last very long.
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How can you not love Kershaw? Even without heat he’s still just as effective. He’s fighting Father Time and winning right now.
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There was plenty of heat. Just that it was in the atmosphere instead of CK’s arm.
Really nice outing.
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The Dodgers did a great job filling their immediate needs. Glad for May and the others that were blocked and traded. I thought Rushing, May and Ward might be traded. Stewart should help and Call is a solid platoon guy with Conforto. Received some interesting minor league prospects also. Kershaw pitched well and Wrobleski continues to progress. A young high velocity multi-pitch rookie that has mostly figured out his control issues! He is a great addition to the club. Snell starting tomorrow. No need for more as Treinen is back and Kopech will be back late August.
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