The Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to look for a shortstop leading up to the July 30 trade deadline. Doing so will allow them to move Mookie Betts back to second base, where he’s a better defender, and replace Gavin Lux, who is hitting .216 in 2024 granted he’s coming off a year off from knee surgery. According to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers share a similar echoment as to what the Dodgers will do.
“I’m going to a broken record on this: they’re going to seek relief help. But the big question is what they do with their offense. They could use one more bat in the outfield. They got [Teoscar] Hernandez who’s doing great, Andy Pages has come on, and the infield is the big question.”
One cause of concern for the Dodgers is that two of their preferred shortstop targets- Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays and Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers- might not be available.
“I’m going to be a broken record on this: they’re going to seek relief help. But the big question is what they do with their offense.”
More from @Ken_Rosenthal on what to expect from the Dodgers with just 50 days until the trade deadline. pic.twitter.com/pPhSjjMeiz
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 11, 2024
Are the Dodgers Looking to Add a Shortstop?
Toronto could be a potential seller after getting off to a poor start this season. However, they have been playing better of late, going 9-5 in their last 14 games to improve their standing in the American League Wild Card hunt. The Blue Jays are three games behind the third AL Wild Card spot. If they are still in the hunt come late July, Bichette and Vladimir Guererro Jr. will likely be unavailable to trade negotiations.
As for Adames, he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. There’s more urgency to trade for him than Bichette or Guerrero. However, Adames is a key part of the Brewers sitting in first place in the National League Central standings. While Milwaukee has traded away top players in the past, including Josh Hader in 2022, it would be a surprise to see the Brewers deal Adames this summer.
If Bichette and Adames are unavailable, the Dodgers will have to turn their attention to another shortstop. Their best option could come from Paul DeJong of the Chicago White Sox, who is in the middle of a resurgence. DeJong has 12 home runs with a 32.9 percent strikeout and 3.9 percent walk rate for the White Sox. DeJong is signed to a one-year, $1.75 million contract.
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