After being swept by the Philadelphia Phillies, it is clear that the Los Angeles Dodgers have pressing needs as we approach the trade deadline. Here are the positions that need to be considered if they are to make a deep October run.
“This needs to be a splash. … They need to move BIG.”@realFRG on the Dodgers’ trade deadline needs. pic.twitter.com/8TaiWBXfr3
— Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) July 11, 2024
The Dodgers’ Three Major Needs Before the Trade Deadline
Third Base
Max Muncy has been on the injured list with a strained oblique since May 15. He is not scheduled to come off the IL until late August at best. It’s more likely that he will return in September. Even then, it could be a while before Muncy gets his timing back at the plate. His replacements Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor, and Cavan Biggio are hitting below .200 with a high strikeout rate. Miguel Vargas, who can hit, has been taking ground balls at the hot corner. However, the Dodgers think he is a defensive liability.
Outfield
Since perennial All-Star Mookie Betts has moved from the outfield to shortstop, there has been flux beyond the diamond. Teoscar Hernández has proved to be “Mr. Clutch” in big-game situations. Andy Pages has been a pleasant surprise as well. Although there have been rookie growing pains, Pages’ bid to be an everyday player has paid dividends. But Jason Heyward (currently on the IL), James Outman, Taylor, and Kiké Hernández are barely hitting the Mendoza Line combined. They can hit for power at times, but their strikeout rate is high. The swing-and-miss rate will likely be higher against postseason-caliber pitching. It would be a good idea to get another quality bat to lengthen the order. As of now, spots six through nine on the Dodgers’ current lineup card don’t strike fear in opposing pitchers.
Pitching
This is by far the most immediate need on the Dodgers roster. Coming into spring training, Los Angeles had a starting rotation capable of being eight or nine men deep. Now an entire rotation is on the IL and at least half of them are All-Stars. Tyler Glasnow is the latest casualty, and he is ten innings away from the most innings he has ever pitched in a season. This proves the point that one can never have enough pitching. Since Gavin Stone‘s terrific complete-game shutout against the Chicago White Sox on June 26, Los Angeles has had three games in which the starters pitch through five innings. This puts tremendous pressure on the bullpen and could make them less effective as they approach the stretch run and the postseason.
The Dodgers could wait until reinforcements arrive off the IL, but most of these starters are not projected to return until August or September. This is well past the July 30 deadline. Even if these pitchers return healthy, there is no guarantee that they will be effective and ready for a postseason run. It looks like the Dodgers need two starting pitchers and a quality reliever if they are serious about pursuing another World Series.
Will GM Andrew Friedman make high-impact trades? Or will he hold on to prized prospects? Dodgers fans have less than three weeks left to find out.
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