The Los Angeles Dodgers have made it clear they are in the market for relievers at this year’s trade deadline. Both the starting rotation and bullpen have dealt with their fair share of injuries, but for the rotation’s sake, guys are starting to get healthy, like Tyler Glasnow, Blake Snell, and Shohei Ohtani starting to get extended when he’s on the mound. Snell has not pitched since April, but he’s essentially going to serve as a deadline acquisition whenever he returns.
Looking at just the bullpen alone, they have thrown among the most innings in all of Major League Baseball, and some guys have not performed to the level that Los Angeles thought they would. Those players are Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott, both of whom the Dodgers extended this offseason. Scott has blown seven saves, and that has led to an outcry for bullpen reinforcements. The Dodgers are attempting to repeat as World Series Champions, and if they want to do so, they have to ensure the bullpen won’t be an issue.
Dodgers-Twins Trade Sends L.A. Danny Coulombe
The Minnesota Twins might be headed towards selling, and a guy who has not been named in trade discussions, and probably should be, is lefty reliever Danny Coulombe, who is silently putting together an outstanding season. In this trade idea, it’s the Los Angeles Dodgers who land Coulombe, who has a microscopic ERA. If the Twins are to sell, they are surely going to get a lot of calls on Griffin Jax and Jhoan Duran, but Coulombe should get some attention as well.
Coulombe, in his second stint with the Twins, has posted a 0.68 ERA through his first 26.2 innings this season, and also has 29 strikeouts. The 35-year-old southpaw is in the middle of a one-year deal, which makes him the perfect option as a rental addition. The only thing stopping Los Angeles from being potentially interested would be their high number of lefties in the bullpen already.
Aside from that, it makes a lot of sense for teams to target this guy, especially if teams are targeting left-handed relievers. High-leverage southpaws are one of the most important and highly-touted positions at the trade deadline every season. Contending teams are searching for matchup-type arms to get the lineups’ most feared lefties out in big playoff games.
What Would It Cost Los Angeles?
Since Coulombe is set to be a free agent, this is a player that the Los Angeles Dodgers can certainly afford. It’s unclear what the Minnesota Twins would ask for in return, but a good package could include outfielder James Outman and a top-10 prospect in the Dodgers organization. Los Angeles has a solid farm system, so letting go of one guy in exchange for Coulombe, who could help the team make a deep October run again, makes a lot of sense.
The Twins are a handful of games under .500, and nobody quite knows just yet what their deadline strategy is, but they should certainly consider trading Coulombe. For the Dodgers, they are certainly going to be buyers, and the bullpen seems to be the one position on their wish list.
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