It’s no secret that the Los Angeles Dodgers have had a rough stretch lately. They have lost seven of their last nine games going into the All-Star break. There have been multiple injuries that have significantly affected their pitching staff, especially in the bullpen. With the trade deadline approaching on July 31, the Dodgers are seeking to make some moves to address their issues. To be honest, what they need to be focusing on is relief pitchers.
Relief Pitchers Are the Top Priority
According to multiple reports, including ones from ESPN and The Athletic, the Dodgers are expected to be one of the most aggressive teams trying to trade for back-end relievers. This means they’re looking at pitchers who usually come in late in the game to close it out or hold onto a lead. It makes sense because a lot of their current relievers are injured, struggling, or not performing up to expectations.
Possible Trade Targets
Some of the big names the Dodgers are linked to include Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax from the Minnesota Twins. Duran has been amazing this season with a 1.66 ERA. Jax is also doing well, even though his ERA is slightly higher at 3.92. Both of them are under team control through 2027, so they won’t be cheap to trade for. But the Dodgers seem to think they’re worth the price. Emmanuel Clase from the Cleveland Guardians and Felix Bautista from the Orioles are also mentioned as possible targets, but it’s not clear if their teams are willing to trade them.
The Dodgers already spent over $100 million in the offseason on relievers like Tanner Scott, Kirby Yates, and Blake Treinen. But unfortunately, things haven’t gone as planned. Scott’s ERA is the highest it’s been since 2022 at 4.09, Yates hasn’t looked like his old self, and Treinen has only pitched in eight games because of a forearm strain. On top of that, Evan Phillips had Tommy John surgery and is out for the season, Brusdar Graterol is still recovering from shoulder surgery, and Michael Kopech won’t be back until late August due to a knee injury.
The team’s bullpen isn’t performing how they need it to. At the All-Star break, the Dodgers’ bullpen ranked 24th in ERA and 22nd in home runs allowed per nine innings. Those aren’t the kind of numbers that help you win a championship.
Shohei Ohtani’s return to the rotation will help the starting pitching. Here is hope that Blake Snell will return soon, but that doesn’t solve the bullpen problem. The Dodgers have relied heavily on their relievers this year. Having pitchers like Alex Vesia playing more consistently will also help with the pitching problems.
A Crucial Deadline Approaching
With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Dodgers know they have to make a move. Even if they don’t land a big-name closer like Duran or Clase, they’ll likely try to add a few dependable arms to help them finish games and avoid blowing leads. Manager Dave Roberts will need all the help he can get if the team wants to make a serious playoff run this year.
The next couple of weeks could be exciting for Dodgers fans. All eyes will be on the front office to see what kind of moves they make, and if they’re enough to get this team back on track.
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