With the trade deadline a week away, the Dodgers are being linked to catching help - and they may have to beat the Yankees to get it.
Los Angeles has been connected to a range of possibilities as rumors ramp up, from a bigger splash to a quieter move around the edges. But with a roster that doesn’t have many glaring holes, the front office may be reluctant to spend big unless the fit is right.
Catcher is the spot drawing the most attention. The Dodgers have been without Will Smith since early June, and the depth chart behind him has been thin. That has pushed the position toward the top of the club’s list as the stretch run approaches.
According to MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Dodgers are indeed in the market for catching help, though the options are limited.
"Satisfying that goal will be easier said than done. The catching market is thin, and the Rays, New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers are among the other teams seeking help behind the plate," Rosenthal and Sammon wrote.
The most logical path for Los Angeles appears to be finding a catcher on an expiring deal who can work as a right-handed platoon partner for Dalton Rushing. Two names that fit that description are Ryan Jeffers of the Minnesota Twins and Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds.
Jeffers brings the stronger bat, which may also make him the tougher get. He is hitting .293 with nine home runs and a .930 OPS in 46 games. Stephenson’s numbers are more modest, as he is batting .244 in 80 games with eight home runs and a .712 OPS.
If the Dodgers decide they’re willing to consider a player with more team control, another name has surfaced. MLB insider Jon Heyman of The New York Post linked Los Angeles to New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens, with the Yankees also potentially involved.
Torrens is under contract for two more years, but that wouldn’t necessarily block the Dodgers from making a move. He could be flipped later if needed, and he would give Los Angeles a more defense-first option behind Rushing.
This season, Torrens has played 64 games and is hitting .223/.284/.320 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. His defensive work stands out more than his bat, as he ranks among the league leaders in caught stealing above average, framing and Fielding Run Value.
Whether the Dodgers actually pull the trigger remains to be seen. But with a chance to three-peat, the catcher spot looks like one of the bigger items on their deadline checklist.
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For New York, the appeal is obvious because the front office rarely passes on a chance to add another arm if the price is right. The wrinkle is that the Yankees may not be alone, with Chicago also believed to be involved, which could turn a straightforward fit into a more competitive market before the deadline gets here. [Read more 🡒]