Depending upon which fan you are or which fans you talk to, the Dodgers need to trade for a stud starting pitcher… maybe two or three. Why? Well, because of the following:
- Yoshi Yamamoto is on the IL, and we have no idea when he will return or even if he will return this year.
- Clayton Kershaw is on the IL, and even though he is close to returning, we have no idea how effective he will be.
- Walker Buehler is on the IL and tried to come back from his second Tommy John Surgery earlier in the year with disastrous results. We have no idea what he will do.
- Tyler Glasnow is on the IL (do you detect a trend?) with back tightness. Back tightness does not worry me. What worries me is that Glasnow is near his peak in innings pitched in a single season and if he comes back this weekend (as expected), he will surpass his peak innings pitched in early August. Will he have anything left in October?
- Bobby Miller is back at OKC trying to fix his delivery and find his release point. Will he be able to do that and come back this year? We simply do not know.
- Gavin Stone is nearing 100 IP. Last season was his most innings pitched with 131. Unless he goes on the IL for a couple of starts, he is going to be gassed in October… AND his perriferals indicate that he is likely to regress here in the second half.
- James Paxton has never been healthy a whole season since Christ was in Cleveland. It’s likely he goes to heis favorite place.. the IL … and soon.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I do not think all of the above pitchers will flop. I think Glasnow will be a horse and Yamamoto and Kershaw will return and be good or even great. I also think that Justin Wrobleski, River Ryan, and Landon Knack could play a role. Ryan Yarbrough will be important as a bulk innings eater along with Michael Grove. I have no idea how Walker Buehler or Bobby Miller will do, but what worries me is trading away the farm for someone like Skubal or Crochet, only to find out that they are running on fumes too due to past injury history and being in the uncharted water of pitching more innings than they ever have. In other words, you might gut the farm and find out you are no better than you were before.
All things considered, I might trade for an innings eater like Eflin, but I do not think the Dodgers brain trust will cough up the prospects required for Skubl or Crochet… not should they! It’s a dope-fiend move. You have to trust what you have. An ACE who is too exhausted to pitch in the playoffs does the Dodgers no good.
We know that Andrew Friedman has a past relationship with Evan Longoria, who is not officially retired. Could Evan come back and play 3B until Max Muncy returns? He has to be better than Biggio. Evan keeps himself in good shape and could be ready to play in a couple of weeks. Just an idea! I think it is more likely the Dodgers get a bat… like Arozarena.
The Dodgers are now ranked #5 in The Athletic Power Poll:
5. Dodgers (previously: 3)
Season high: 1 | Season low: 6
Injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto made those hopes for a 120-win super team fall away, but the Dodgers are as well positioned as usual. They’re going to win their division, they’re getting those injured players back and they can add help wherever they need it at the Deadline. We’re going to get to watch Shohei Ohtani in a playoff game real soon.
Reasonable Expectation: Oh, just winning the World Series, like always.
Nathan Eovaldi Thats the guy I would try to get….
He has a very extensive injury history as well.
But he is nails in October. Ill take that risk for a guy that has a proven history.
Exactly the reason I want them to trade for Arozarena. Guy has been a monster in post-season games.
I don’t know if it’s possible to find a pitcher without an injury history any more. And for the few who don’t they have an injury future.
Agreed.
Its bc its all about velocity starting at a young age now….
Well, that makes me feel better.
Honestly, why worry? Maybe this happens, maybe that or nothing at all. You’re, of course , correct about a trade for Skubal or Crocket. They could make a couple of starts, tire or have to go on the IL for something or other. Remember Brad Penny? Looked great in his first start for the Dodgers.
I actually feel pretty good about Glasnow. Stone should be okay. Paxton is Paxton. Hopefullly Kershaw is okay. You really don’t hear much about Yamamoto in terms of one of those optimistic timelines the Dodgers like to toss around. The ones he’s looking better, may return soon. Oops, there has been a setback. Remember the reports last year on Buehler.
I’m not certain Crocket or Skubal gets traded. Some of that may be media hype and wishful thinking. How many times do you see all the rumors and predictions, then nothing happens. Often.
I’m sure there will be trades, but maybe not the big ones for young, up and coming pitchers.
Crochet is very likely to be traded. Sox just want a lot for him, same as they do Robert Jr., whose price is rising since he is all of a sudden playing like he did last year. Both are injury risks. Skubal is less likely to be traded since Detroit is building its future roster. He is going to be the anchor of that rotation.
Right now my postseason rotation is Glasnow, Kershaw, Stone & Paxton.
Paxton almost certainly won’t be starting in October and Yamamoto better be back by then. Seems likely we’ll add an SP by then.
Glasnow, Yamamoto, Kershaw, New guy/Stone?
A positive development for Yamamoto.
https://www.si.com/mlb/dodgers/news/dodgers-injured-starting-pitcher-takes-big-step-forward-in-recovery-01j2mw71tw81
Playing catch?
Im not saying he was not hurt, but I think the Dodgers are slow playing this to be sure he’s fresh come October.
They have learned their lessons the past 2 years.
Yamamoto WILL be back.
The Dodgers passed lefty Jose Hernandez through outright waivers and assigned him to their Rookie-level affiliate in the Arizona Complex League, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. Hernandez had already been pitching in the ACL, building up after a layoff between the time L.A. acquired him from Pittsburgh and he began pitching with an affiliate. The move opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, which is presumably earmarked for top pitching prospect River Ryan, who’s slated to make his big league debut this weekend.
Dodgers and Cubs opening 2025 in Tokyo!
Hate that.
It is great for Ohtani. The interest in that game will be through the roof. MLB is trying to expand the game. It is hugely popular in Japan. Ohtani will bring many Japanese fans to the Dodgers. It will be a spectacle you can bet on that. Makes more sense to have a Japanese icon like him open there than in Korea. This was kind of suggested back when they opened in Korea. Dodgers haven’t played in the London Series yet; you can bet that will happen down the road. The ovation that Ohtani will get when he is announced in that ballpark will probably rival anything you have ever heard.
Also Yamamoto vs imanaga?! Yes please!
Why not Ohtani vs Imanaga?
I forgot about the Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki too. And if LA is lucky enough to land Sasaki also. Yamamoto pitching against Imanaga, and Suzuki facing Yamamoto, and Ohtani V Imanaga. Wow. Fans will go batshit.
“Clayton Kershaw has already made one rehab start in Triple-A, and is set to pitch four innings this Friday with Oklahoma City in Round Rock, Texas. After that, the Dodgers will decide if he needs another rehab start or if he’ll return to the rotation. Whenever it happens, the Dodgers will need to make 40-man roster room because Kershaw is on the 60-day IL while recovering from last November’s shoulder surgery”.
yeah, that takes a home game away from one of those teams! never liked it. exhibition? yes, regular season ,NO!
Tyler Anderson, Pillar, and Rengifo….what would it take?
Moreno to sell the team
Agreed. As long as he owns the Angels, other than waiver claims or rule 5 players, doubt you will see them trade anyone to the Dodgers. I think LA should sue him to have Los Angeles removed from the Angels name. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim???? He is just trying to act like he is part of the LA market. Rengifo is on the IL Matt. LA had Pillar before. Not a power bat. Good bat to ball skills and an excellent fielder.
Jack Flarethy would be a good addition and could start in a post season game. That would be who i would add at deadline.. Glasnow Kershaw Flarethy Stone Paxton. Just because we don’t know about Yosi coming back.
Yamamoto will be back and as good as ever.
you tell them Mark!! …. why add an outfielder no better than what you already have. Pillar is not a difference maker. …… so many teams hunkered around the playoffs, probably not going to be a lot of big time outfielders available. .. so why not add a shortstop?? I hear Bo Bichette might be available!! DO IT!! john paul merosi agrees!! A change of scenery will do him so much good!!
Wouldn’t a Tommy Pham and Paul DeJong and is it starting pitcher Feede be more reasonable and say trade like Lux Outman and Knack and Cartaya. Still doesn’t improve secind base unless DeJong plays 3b and Rojas at shortstop but I would think when Betts and Muncy come back then DeJong would be the shortstop. So then your keep keke and CT3 to play thirdbase put Paul DeJong at shortstop and Miguel Rojas at 2b. Seems like you could get players and another outfielder with the prospects we have. Like a winker or thomas or rooker and maybe Hornier from the Cubs that can play 3b and 2b.
DeJong has never played third in the major leagues. He has limited experience at second. Muncy might not come back at all. He is not even swinging a bat at this point. If they did trade for a SS, Mookie would move to second, and Rojas would become a utility guy, eliminating the need for one of either Taylor or Kike. I think Pham is way down on the list because so far, his name is not being bandied around in any rumors concerning the Dodgers. On the other hand, because of his prior connection with the Rays, and the fact that they have done numerous trades over the last several years, Arozarena has been the subject of many rumored deals between LA and the Rays, along with Elfin. Paredes is not in the discussion so far.
Athletic recently suggested an ambitious trade that would send Robert Jr., All-Star pitcher Garrett Crochet, and reliever Michael Kopech to the Dodgers in exchange for seven top prospects from their farm system.
These prospects include pitchers Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, Payton Martin, Justin Wrobleski, infielder Dalton Rushing, shortstop Emil Morales, and outfielder Andy Pages.
According to the famous Baseball Trade Values Trade Simulator, you’d have to add one of the following to even out the trade:
Freeland
Ryan
Lux
I would deal the platoon guy at 2B, who has no clear future in LA.
AF would NEVER do that deal. Not for a starting pitcher who is close to his highest innings pitched ever, and an injury prone outfielder.
Tarik Skubal is probably the best young pitcher in the M not named Skenes.
Plus, he’s a lefty and the Dodgers might want one of those when Kershaw decides to call it a career.
I don’t think Detroit is really dealing, but I’d have no problem with the dreaded “overpay” for Skubal. (The point is never to “win” the trade, but to win a championship.) A playoff rotation with Skubal would be strong.
And next season, a rotation of Ohtani, Skubal, Glasnow, Yamamoto. Stone and Kershaw would be pretty good. (Yeah, I think Kersh will want to play, at least in the second half.) Note that this rotation assumes the Dodgers don’t sign Sasaki, and it guarantees no spot for May or Gonsolin.
I think I just included Bobby Miller in the overpay for Skubal.
Hmmm…. Miller + Rushing + Lux + Vargas???
I would keep Rushing over Cartaya. Rushing also hits left-handed. To me, that is a plus.
i think the cubbies have the “horniest” guy in the major leagues!! Better not trade for that dude. Sorry Bradley! …. Seems the Friars are hot after Crochet! Where do they keep getting all theses prospects to trade away? …. If AF can somehow pry Skrubal away from the Tigers without gutting the farm system, ok! Rumor has it that the Orioles might be willing to include Jackson Holliday in a potential deal. No way the Dodgers can match the Orioles head to head for Skrubal. ……. So if they can acquire Paredes from the Rays , just do it!! not sounding like max is back anytime soon! ……… Need to start off strong after the all star break! …. Any word on Mookie and when he might return?