The Dodgers may not have an obvious hole, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting tied to one of the bigger names on the market as the Aug. 3 trade deadline nears.
Los Angeles was recently linked to Tigers All-Star Gleyber Torres by MLB insider Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, with the Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians listed as possible fits. Second base is the one spot in the Dodgers’ lineup that isn’t fully settled, which is why Torres makes sense on paper. Still, Tommy Edman is back and playing well, so a pursuit only really seems to gain traction if an injury creates a need.
Torres has missed the last few weeks with a left oblique strain, but he’s expected back soon. And if Detroit decides to start moving pieces, he looks like the kind of player who could draw plenty of attention. He’s been productive this season, hitting .280/.395/.395 with four home runs and 18 RBIs.
The appeal goes beyond the numbers. Torres has shown strong plate discipline, ranking in the 99th percentile in chase percentage. That kind of approach fits naturally with the way the Dodgers want their hitters to work at-bats and stay selective.
There’s also the matter of experience. Torres already has years of pressure-packed baseball behind him from his time with the New York Yankees, which only adds to his appeal if Los Angeles is looking for a player who can handle the spotlight.
The Dodgers have been connected to Torres before, and this could be the moment where the fit finally lines up. With the Tigers struggling, a fire sale around the roster is widely expected, and Torres could be part of it.
Los Angeles has also been heavily linked to Tigers ace Tarik Skubal, raising the possibility of a larger deal between the two clubs. Both Torres and Skubal are set to become free agents after the 2026 season, so Detroit may prefer to collect assets now rather than risk losing them later.
The Dodgers have the prospect capital to get something like that done. The only question is how aggressive they want to be.
In Other News...
Dodgers Face A Deadline Choice Fans Know Could Sting Again
The Dodgers deadline planning is starting to look familiar in a way that will not surprise anyone who has watched how they operate around this time of year. Instead of chasing the loudest major league upgrade, they are reportedly leaning toward using the market to replenish the farm system with top prospects, a strategy that has helped them stay stocked even while they keep contending at the big league level. It is the kind of approach that can pay off later, but it also means every possible deal gets weighed against what comes out the other side.
Tarik Skubal remains a name tied to Los Angeles, and the possibility of Detroit moving him this summer only adds another layer to the equation. Even if the Dodgers stay interested, the price would come from the same kind of prospect depth they are trying to protect, which is why their recent history matters here. Trading Michael Busch to the Cubs in 2024 brought back Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris, and deals like that have become part of the blueprint. Whether they follow it again may say as much about their long view as it does about this deadline. [Read more 🡒]
Former Dodgers Fan Favorite Joe Kelly Is Starting A Coaching Chapter
Joe Kellys next baseball stop is close to home. The former major league reliever has been hired as an assistant coach at Corona High School, where he will work with the teams pitchers, bringing a long pro career back into a setting that shaped him. It is a familiar kind of move for a player whose resume includes World Series rings and years of big league experience, but this one carries a personal angle too.
Corona High is Kellys alma mater, so the job amounts to a return to the program that helped launch him. After recently retiring from pitching and stepping away from comeback hopes, he is starting a new chapter in baseball with a high school staff, and for Dodgers fans who watched his wild ride over the years, it is a reminder that his connection to the game is not ending so much as changing form. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Waste Big Opportunity After Unexpected Lineup Change
The Dodgers tried a bullpen-game approach Sunday, hoping to piece together enough pitching behind an altered lineup and keep pace in a series that had already turned into a grind. Instead, the Athletics kept landing early blows and stretched the lead all game, taking advantage of a night when Los Angeles could not cash in on traffic and never found a rhythm at the plate.
A rough first inning set the tone when the Dodgers loaded the bases but came away empty, and the missed chance hung around after Jonah Heims long home run put the As in front. Los Angeles briefly answered, but Shea Langeliers 20th homer of the season helped open the gap again, and the Dodgers spent the rest of the night stranding runners and chasing a game that slipped farther away with every inning. [Read more 🡒]