As next Thursday’s trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves with several tough choices, including whether they want to address their current left field situation. Michael Conforto, signed to a one-year, $17 million deal in the offseason, has struggled mightily in his first season in Dodger Blue, slashing just .186/.296/.323 with eight home runs through his first 90 games.
The lefty-hitting outfielder has shown recent signs of life, posting a much-improved .254/.293/.479 slash line with four home runs and four doubles over his last 23 games. But for a team with championship aspirations, the question remains: Will Conforto’s bat be potent enough to deliver what the team needs to succeed offensively?
Trade Rumors Beginning to Surface Across the MLB
According to some rumblings, the Dodgers have emerged as one of several teams expressing interest in St. Louis Cardinals utility man Brendan Donovan. The left-handed hitting All-Star presents an intriguing option that could solve multiple roster puzzle pieces for Los Angeles.
The 28-year-old Donovan, who’s batting .293/.360/.428 with nine home runs this season, offers the same left-handed bat the Dodgers sought when they signed Conforto. More importantly, Donovan’s defensive versatility could create the roster flexibility that manager Dave Roberts values so highly. With Tommy Edman‘s ability to play multiple positions, the Dodgers could theoretically slot Donovan at second base, move Edman to center field more frequently, shift Andy Pages to a corner spot, and effectively phase out Conforto from the everyday lineup.
The Cardinals have reportedly set a high asking price for Donovan, who remains under team control through 2027. While the Dodgers might be reluctant to part with high-demand prospects like Dalton Rushing or Alex Freeland, the appeal of adding a proven major league bat who could contribute immediately and for years to come may ultimately prove too tempting to resist.
The Bullpen Crisis Demands Attention
While the outfield situation has grabbed several headlines, the team’s most pressing need heading into the deadline is clear — bullpen help. The relief corps has been decimated by injuries, with Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech, Brusdar Graterol, Evan Phillips, and most recently Tanner Scott all spending significant time on the injured list.
The numbers tell a horrifying story. Los Angeles relievers have thrown a league-high 446-⅔ innings while posting an unimpressive combined 4.35 ERA. Three of their top relievers heading into the season — Kopech, Phillips and Treinen — are all currently on the 60-day injured list. Even the recent addition of Scott, signed to a four-year, $72 million deal in the offseason, has struggled with a 4.14 ERA and recently landed on the IL with elbow inflammation.
With Treinen expected back soon and Kopech targeting a late August return, reinforcements could be coming. But October is rapidly approaching, and championship teams can’t afford to enter the postseason with an overworked and undermanned bullpen.
Looking Ahead
The beauty of the trade deadline is that it forces difficult decisions that organizations might otherwise postpone. For the Dodgers, that decision centers on whether to double down on Conforto’s recent improvement or acknowledge that his offensive capabilities simply aren’t championship-caliber.
Adding a player like Donovan would create roster flexibility while addressing the need for a reliable left-handed bat. More importantly, it would give the Dodgers options in October, when depth and versatility become crucial advantages. The cost would be steep — likely involving multiple prospects – but for a team that has consistently shown a willingness to mortgage the future for present success, it represents the kind of calculated risk that front-office boss Andrew Friedman might make.
As Thursday’s deadline approaches, the Dodgers will face several decisions that could define their championship aspirations. In a season where everything from starting pitching to the bullpen has tested their depth, the question isn’t whether they’ll make moves — it’s whether they’ll make the right ones.