The Los Angeles Dodgers are thought to be in the trade market for a top reliever with just one day before MLB’s July 31st deadline. However, they are already starting to make moves regarding the bullpen, which has struggled with its performance for the majority of the year.
They are also potentially open to using some of the arms on their roster right now as trade bait. Los Angeles’ bullpen has been hit hard with injuries and underperformed all season. Tanner Scott is on the IL, but has underperformed, and the Dodgers need a closer who can be consistent. Scott had blown seven saves before going down with a left elbow issue.
Dave Roberts Makes Dustin May Announcement
Before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, manager Dave Roberts announced that Dustin May will officially be moved into a bullpen role. This move is likely being made because starter Blake Snell is making his first start since April 2nd on Saturday.
May has made 18 starts this season and has a 4.85 ERA in 104 innings. Both are career-high marks, but May had yet to throw more than 60 innings in a season in his career. His name has also been the subject of many trade rumors this season, which even he noted sarcastically that it was “shocking”, because of how he’s heard his name almost every season of his career in rumors.
The idea is that May could be a strong piece in a trade to acquire another big-time reliever. May has made one appearance out of the bullpen this season, and it was piggybacking off a Shohei Ohtani start on July 21st against the Minnesota Twins. He threw 4.2 innings, giving up no runs and striking out four.
The Dodgers’ rotation is starting to get healthy, which, unfortunately for May, means there’s no longer a place for him. It’s a move that many could have seen coming, likely even May himself. However, he has given the Dodgers a lot of innings when they have needed them this season.
Dodgers Bullpen Outlook
As for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ future bullpen outlook, May will serve as the long reliever, which is good considering his starter background, and maybe that will result in more success since hitters won’t be able to gameplan for him.
There is just one day until the trade deadline, and the Dodgers have yet to make a single move, which is certainly bound to change because of how active they have been over recent years. Plus, they still have World Series aspirations, and after their run last season, where the bullpen was such a massive part of the run, the front office certainly understands the importance of closing out games.
Los Angeles has essentially been linked to every big bullpen arm presumably on the market; however, it’s still unclear if they are targeting a specific arm or just making calls with every team making their high-leverage relievers available. Tomorrow, July 31st, is bound to be a busy day for the Dodgers organization.
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