The Los Angeles Dodgers had no intention of being active buyers at the 2025 MLB trade deadline. President of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, made that clear during the offseason. “My goal is to not buy in July. It is terrible,” Friedman said then, emphasizing his preference for building a roster that wouldn’t need patchwork fixes midseason.
And to his credit, Friedman acted accordingly. The Dodgers spent $107 million on relievers this winter—inking lefty Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million deal, bringing in veteran Kirby Yates for one year at $13 million, and retaining Blake Treinen. The bullpen appeared deep, veteran-laden, and ready for the postseason.
But nearly four months into the season, things haven’t gone according to plan.
Dodgers’ Offseason Investments Have Fallen Flat
Despite their massive investment, the Dodgers’ bullpen ranks tied for 23rd in MLB with a 4.38 ERA. The most glaring issue is the performance of Tanner Scott, whose struggles have prompted the front office to revert to a buyer’s mode. Scott leads all MLB relievers with seven blown saves and has surrendered eight home runs, tied for fifth-most among bullpen arms. He has posted a 4.09 ERA, which isn’t disastrous on the surface, but he consistently falters in high-leverage spots.
Yates hasn’t offered much relief, either. The right-hander owns a 3.90 ERA with five home runs allowed in just 27.2 innings. He has blown two saves and taken three losses, compounding LA’s late-inning woes.
With multiple bullpen injuries and inconsistent performances across the board, the Dodgers no longer have the luxury of standing pat. According to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal, the club is “expected to pursue bullpen help” as the deadline approaches.
Targeting Reinforcements from Contenders & Sellers Alike
The Dodgers have already been linked to several bullpen arms across both leagues. In Minnesota, relievers Jhoan Duran (1.66 ERA), Griffin Jax (3.92 ERA), and Brock Stewart (2.45 ERA) are seen as possible trade targets by Bob Nightengale from USA Today. The Twins are hovering near .500 and could deal from their bullpen depth if they pivot toward selling.
Meanwhile, Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase is also on LA’s radar. Though he’s having a “down year” by his standards—with a 2.91 ERA after finishing 2024 with a 0.61—Clase remains an elite closer. The Dodgers can afford him, and he fits perfectly on a team chasing a championship with the farm system to pull off a blockbuster.
Additional names like Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks (2.75 ERA) and St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley (3.27 ERA) have also surfaced, indicating the Dodgers are casting a wide net. What unites all these names is their ability to miss bats and lock down late innings—something LA’s current group hasn’t consistently done.
Even beyond the bullpen, the Dodgers face questions about overall depth after dealing with a wave of injuries this season. While much of the attention is on the late innings, LA could also explore combo deals that bring back both bullpen help and rotational depth. That flexibility could be key to maximizing the opportunity in another championship window.
For Friedman, the situation is frustratingly familiar. He built this bullpen to avoid precisely this scenario. But baseball, as always, had other plans. Despite investing heavily to prevent July scrambling, the Dodgers are again forced into the trade market in search of stability.
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