Yesterday’s MLB Trade Deadline was as crazy as it gets. We saw some massive trades where teams clearly overpaid in their moves. The Los Angeles Dodgers stayed back and didn’t make any splashes. It was somewhat similar to last year, where their top additions were Jack Flaherty, Michael Kopech, and Tommy Edman. No blockbuster deals, but they addressed their needs.
This year, the team traded former standout outfielder James Outman straight up for Twins right-handed reliever Brock Stewart. To address their issues in left field, they moved prospects Eriq Swan and Sean Paul Liñan to the Nationals for outfielder Alex Call. Dustin May’s Dodgers tenure ended yesterday when he was sent to the Red Sox in return for outfield prospects James Tibbs III and Zach Ehrhard. Los Angeles was also involved in a three-team deal, where they moved catcher Hunter Feduccia to acquire pitching prospects Paul Gervase and Adam Serwinowski, as well as catching prospect Ben Rortvedt.
Coming into this year’s deadline, the two glaring holes were in left field and the bullpen. Did they answer their questions there? Well…kind of.
Left Field Issues
So far this season, left field has been manned by Michael Conforto. The 32-year-old has been a serious disappointment for this team, as he’s been one of the worst outfielders in the league. So far, he has a .653 OPS, paired with an abysmal negative six OAA in the outfield. As bad as he’s played, the veteran outfielder is finally turning it around. In July, he hit .273 with an .827 OPS. Easily his best month of the season.
Bullpen Issues
The Dodgers made significant moves to strengthen the bullpen this offseason by extending Blake Treinen, as well as signing Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates. Unfortunately, Treinen was placed on the injury list in April and just returned to the roster this past week. Both Scott and Yates have struggled heavily this season.
Coming off his first All-Star appearance in 2024, Scott has regressed this season. He holds a 4.14 ERA and has blown seven games. Like many other pitchers in the organization, he was placed on the injury list with an elbow injury.
Like Scott, Yates is coming off a terrific 2024 season and is putting together a much worse 2025. Over 31.1 innings, the righty has a 4.31 and a 1.31 WHIP. Hardly what the Dodgers were expecting when they paid him this past offseason.
Dodgers Additions
Los Angeles addressed both positions of concern yesterday afternoon. Alex Call can play all three outfield spots and will be a depth piece for the squad. Offensively, his chase, whiff, strikeout, and walk rates are among the best in the MLB. Call won’t bring much pop to the lineup, but he can be a pesky hitter at the bottom of the order.
Brock Stewart was the only addition to the major league bullpen. After an up-and-down career, the right-hander is putting up spectacular numbers this season. Both his expected ERA and batting averages rank in the 98th percentile. Opposing batters are also whiffing and striking out against him at high rates, with him not giving up much hard contact. The only other season where he’s put up above-average numbers was in 2023. Still, Stewart is pitching extremely well and will be a big factor in the Dodgers’ postseason.
Will it be enough?
What this deadline tells me is that the organization is banking on its offseason acquisitions to step up. Call is a decent depth piece, but the Dodgers are hoping Conforto returns to his career averages. Stewart looks to be an intriguing upgrade in the bullpen, but again, the Dodgers need the guys they already have to perform better.
While the team was linked to Steven Kwan, Mason Miller, and some of the other big names available, Andrew Friedman chose to downplay the team’s issues, expecting them to play better towards the end of the regular season and into the postseason. Only time will tell if this was the correct move, or if the Dodgers should have ponyed up their prospects to improve their already star-studded roster.
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