The Dodgers are heading toward the Aug. 3 trade deadline with all eyes on Andrew Friedman, and the big question is simple: does a team without obvious holes still make a move?
Reports have suggested Los Angeles would rather let its players get healthy and ride that out through the final stretch of the season. But with the Dodgers, the door never really closes on a deal. If they decide to add, three names stand out as realistic fits.
Aroldis Chapman looks like the cleanest bullpen answer. The Dodgers have already been connected to the veteran closer this summer, and he’d give the relief group a major boost.
It’s more of a luxury add than a necessity, but with Edwin Diaz injured this year, Chapman could serve as valuable insurance. He’s been excellent with the Red Sox, posting a 2.20 ERA with 19 saves across 28.2 innings.
That kind of arm changes the feel of a bullpen in October, and Chapman would fit the kind of late-game role the Dodgers can always use. The front office has had interest in him for a long time, too. Los Angeles traded for Chapman in 2015, but that deal was canceled because of off-the-field troubles, so there’s already a history there.
Luis Arráez is another name that makes sense if the Dodgers want more punch near the top of the lineup. He’s putting together a strong year in San Francisco, hitting .330 with four home runs and 35 RBIs while carrying an .829 OPS. He’s also piled up 119 hits, continuing to do what he does best: put the bat on the ball and keep the line moving.
Arráez’s defense has improved with the Giants as well, and he could give the Dodgers a steady option at second base. His Outs Above Average numbers back that up, as he ranks in the 99th percentile.
A deal between division rivals would not be easy, but the Giants could be tempted if Los Angeles puts the right prospects on the table. Arráez is on an expiring contract, which only adds to the possibility that San Francisco could look to move him before free agency.
A catcher could also be on the Dodgers’ radar, especially if there’s more concern about Will Smith’s injury than has been made public. Even if Smith returns, Austin Heim would bring experience and depth behind Dalton Rushing.
Heim was dealt from the Atlanta Braves to the Athletics this year, but he could be on the move again. Oakland does not have a long-term need for him, and with Heim set to reach free agency after the season, the A’s could prefer to get something back now.
At the plate, Heim has hit .232 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs, along with a .740 OPS. He has also punished left-handed pitching, posting a .962 OPS against them this season. For the Dodgers, he’d be a depth piece rather than a headline move, but one that could matter if the catching situation gets any tighter.
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Dodgers Fans Have A Bigger Roki Sasaki Concern Than They Realized
Roki Sasakis first season in Los Angeles has been bumpy enough that the Dodgers are spending the All-Star break looking for answers, not just results. He finished his final start before the break with six innings of work, allowing four hits and three earned runs, and the broader line has been hard to ignore: a 3-5 record and a 5.33 ERA through 16 starts.
The encouraging part for the Dodgers is that Sasaki is still in the rotation, which gives the club time to keep working through what has gone wrong. The less comforting part is how quickly the conversation has shifted from simple command issues to a deeper mechanical concern, and the next few weeks should tell whether the break gives him a reset or only a brief pause in a season that has already asked a lot of him. [Read more 🡒]