How Active Will Dodgers Be at 2023 MLB Trade Deadline?

At this point, it’s probably a given that the Los Angeles Dodgers will make at least a few moves at the 2023 MLB summer trade deadline. The big question, though, is whether the team will make a big splash having an immediate impact.

Several weeks ago, many fans felt that it could take a little time for the 2023 version of the Dodgers to develop. However, as the 50-game mark of the campaign approaches, it’s probably safe to say this is one of the most inconsistent teams we’ve seen in recent years. Although Los Angeles is barely holding on to first place in the NL West, it’s still hard to say how the rest of the field will shape up as the season progresses.

Regardless, the 2023 Dodgers certainly don’t have the feel of a club that blew past the MLB tax threshold over the winter to sign veteran outfielder David Peralta as a bench piece.

No question, the club has had its fair share of injuries, with some of the biggest blows being Walker Buehler, Dustin May, Daniel Hudson and most recently, Julio Urias. Even with the struggles to the pitching staff, the biggest problem might be the offense.

It appears like the team might be giving youngsters like James Outman and Miguel Vargas as much time as they need to develop, which is fine. The problem is that a whopping six regular players on the active roster are batting .240 or lower. The team’s combined .233 batting average is good enough for 23rd in the majors and second-to-last in the National League.

And if you really want to talk about inconsistency, Max Muncy could be the first MLB player ever to OPS over 1.000 while batting below the Mendoza line. Even if Gavin Lux is healthy, he wouldn’t be able to save this offense if he had his best year as a professional.

Still, at full health, one would think that front-office boss Andrew Friedman and his crew will be very active at this year’s trade deadline. If Urias and May come back at full force — which might be a big question mark for May — there still might not be enough horsepower in the rotation. There’s no way to tell how effective Syndergaard can be moving forward, and it’s probably safe to assume that Clayton Kershaw will make a visit to the injured list, whether for an actual injury or a phantom rest period.

Right now, the Dodgers are in the middle of the National League pack at seventh place with a 4.29 overall team ERA, and it’s difficult for most fans to remember when the team was anywhere outside the Top 5 in recent years. The combined bullpen ERA is 4.70, which is the worst mark in the National League aside from division rival San Francisco.

As far as additions go at the trade deadline, it’s tough to even guess where to start. Even if Hudson comes back — and an even darker dark horse with Blake Treinen — the club needs some effective relievers. Aside from Evan Phillips and maybe Caleb Ferguson, there’s nobody throwing remotely close to being trustworthy in high leverage spots.

Should the Dodgers wait for Ryan Pepiot and Michael Grove to regain health and see if they have enough firepower to contribute as legit starters down the stretch? Can Mookie Betts catch fire and carry the offense with Freddie Freeman? Can the team count on guys like Chris Taylor, Jayson Heyward and David Peralta to be solid contributors down the stretch?

Or, should the team blow past the salary cap even more and take a chance on a pricy deal at the summer deadline?

We should know in less than 10 weeks.

Thoughts on the Dodgers Activity at the Trade Deadline

Hello everyone, and a very pleasant Wednesday to you, wherever you may be.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the baseball community lost an icon Tuesday evening with the passing of Vin Scully. Dennis covered this news here, and we will do our best to carry on without him.

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Dodgers Roster: Recapping the 2022 Trade Deadline

Another trade deadline has come and gone. The Dodgers, with an NL-best record of 69-33, were rumored to be interested in some huge names. Ultimately, they kept the farm system intact and didn’t make any significant trades.

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How Will Dodgers Make Room for Chris Taylor?

With most of baseball’s current news surrounding Tuesday’s summer trade deadline, the Dodgers find themselves in somewhat of a unique position because of the potential influx of players returning from the injured list.

For weeks now, it seems like we’ve been discussing player returns from the pitching perspective — see players like Blake Treinen, Dustin May and Brusdar Graterol — however, many of us have forgotten about some of the position players who could provide an impact upon their returns, specifically super-utility man Chris Taylor.

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Dodgers Trade Zach McKinstry to Cubs for Reliever Chris Martin

With just a few days remaining before this summer’s trade deadline, the Dodgers traded super-utility man Zach McKinstry to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for a super-veteran reliever in Chris Martin.

We’ve been discussing the Los Angeles bullpen quite a bit lately — particularly the role Craig Kimbrel might play during a prospective 2022 playoff run — and this latest move comes one day after Kimbrel nearly squandered a three-run ninth-inning lead against the Rockies on Friday.

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Taking a Look at Several Possible Player Additions for Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been there and done that regarding big trades. Mookie Betts, Trea Turner, and Yu Darvish. Since the team is regularly among the perennial candidates, it is no debate as to why they execute these trades.

This trade deadline season isn’t any different, as the Dodgers have many names linked to them.
Even with a record of 66-32, the Dodgers are still looking to add pieces for the postseason push.

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Can Dodgers Succeed in Playoffs With Craig Kimbrel as Closer?

While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been the focus on nearly every potential trade chip so far this summer, adding a reliable reliever or two to the bullpen has been one of the most popular topics of discussion across the baseball blogosphere.

Even the most informed reporters and analysts in the media have a difficult time predicting trades without a reliable source of inside information. It’s hard to hypothesize how a rival general manager views their team’s needs, much less the actual trade value of the player departing. Occasionally, we’ll see a deal reported as a sure thing reach an impasse because both sides are unable to arrive at an agreement.

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More Thoughts on Dodgers and the 2022 MLB Trade Market

As we crawl into the final 10 days before the 2022 MLB trade deadline, things remain untypically quiet, aside from all the chatter surrounding Juan Soto and whether the Nationals will strike a deal with another club before August 2.

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3 Players Who Could Boost Dodgers’ Playoff Chances in 2022

When fans get a look at the second-half Dodgers in the series opener against the Giants on Thursday, they’ll see Mitch White taking the bump in the bottom of the first inning.

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Could Dodgers Be a Match for Juan Soto?

With the trade deadline just a few weeks away, there hasn’t been an overwhelming amount of news surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers, aside from a few whispers about infielder Brandon Drury and the perennial rumblings surrounding pitcher Luis Castillo.

The team has been somewhat busy on the bottom-end of the market, having brought back reliever Jake Reed after he was waived by the Mets and signing another reliever in Hansel Robles after being released by the Red Sox.

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