The Dodgers looked like a team that might spend July quietly. Now, injuries have pushed them toward a very different deadline conversation.
Los Angeles is still one of the league’s most complete clubs, but according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the front office may now be forced to consider help at catcher and in the starting rotation before the Aug. 3 deadline. The shift comes as Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani have both been knocked off track.
“The Los Angeles Dodgers, who seemed set at the trade deadline, now in the catchers’ market with Will Smith out for another month and perhaps will explore the starting pitching market too with Shohei Ohtani scratched again from his next start with no return date set.”
Smith has been out since early June because of a lingering neck injury, and the setbacks have left no clear timetable for his return. Dalton Rushing has handled the job in his absence, and he has given the Dodgers solid production with a .247 average, 10 home runs, 30 RBIs and an .800 OPS. Even so, the club may want another layer of protection behind him while Smith works through the injury.
The rotation picture has also become more complicated. Tyler Glasnow has been out with a back issue and Blake Snell has missed time with an elbow injury. Both are expected back by the end of August, but the Dodgers still have to navigate the possibility that those recoveries take longer than hoped.
Snell is expected back in the middle of August after beginning a rehab assignment this week. Glasnow remains behind him in the recovery process, though the latest update on his return was described as positive.
Ohtani’s situation adds another wrinkle. Nightengale reported that the Dodgers have now shut him down from pitching because of an ongoing knee injury, and that could affect how aggressively they attack the starter market.
Los Angeles has been linked to Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, but reports have said the Dodgers will not pursue him. With Ohtani now shelved on the mound, that stance could be revisited.
For now, the Dodgers are choosing caution with Ohtani, even if that means pausing his two-way role. The organization’s focus remains the same: win another World Series. And with that goal in mind, a deadline that once looked quiet may end up being a lot busier than expected.
In Other News...
Andrew Friedman May Regret What He Gave Kyle Tucker
Kyle Tuckers first season in Los Angeles has been more steady than spectacular, which is part of why the Dodgers are already getting a reminder of how unusual his contract is. The outfielder has been average on both sides of the ball so far, and in a season where every roster decision gets magnified, that matters for a team that built its reputation on keeping as much flexibility as possible.
Andrew Friedman has long been known for avoiding the kind of player-friendly escape hatches Tucker received, so this deal stands out as a real departure from the Dodgers usual playbook. If Tuckers production stays in this range, the front office could be staring at a situation it has spent years trying to avoid, with the player holding far more leverage over what comes next than Friedman typically allows. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Cut Ties With Young Pitcher After Sudden Downward Turn
A rough 2026 season at Single-A has cost one of the Dodgers young pitching projects a spot in the organization, after a sudden downturn that became hard to ignore. The right-hander had been part of the clubs international pipeline since signing in December 2023, and his path through the lower minors had already featured a mix of encouraging moments and uneven results before this years struggles took hold.
The final outing on July 8 was especially difficult, and it fit the broader picture of a pitcher who could not find any rhythm this summer. Over his limited work at Single-A, he was hit with a sky-high ERA and issued more walks than strikeouts, a combination that left the Dodgers with little choice as they moved on and opened the door to whatever comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Let A Yankees Sweep Slip Away In Familiar Fashion
The Dodgers had the sweep within reach after taking the opener of their doubleheader against the Yankees, but the night settled into the kind of grind that has too often followed this club when the bats go quiet. Los Angeles added Kyle Hurt as the 27th man for the twin bill, and the right-hander got into the game before heading back to Triple-A, another reminder of how much the Dodgers had to piece together as they tried to finish off New York.
Instead, the offense managed only one run on four hits and four walks, leaving the bullpen to carry the load for most of the second game. Los Angeles got eight innings from its relievers and still came away empty, with Evan Phillips taking the loss after the Dodgers could not protect a tie game late. It was a familiar kind of letdown for a team that had already done the hard part earlier in the day. [Read more 🡒]