With Major League Baseball’s trade deadline just two weeks away, that gives contending teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers a chance to refine their roster and improve on their weak points. For the Dodgers, it is clear they will be addressing their bullpen situation, which ranks 24th in MLB. Those bullpen struggles can be attributed to a couple of factors. First, their starting rotation has been dealing with injuries all season, and that has caused Los Angeles’s bullpen to eat up the most innings in baseball.
Secondly, players like Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates have not lived up to the standards the Dodgers thought they would when Los Angeles signed both guys last offseason. Yates has a 3.90 ERA, and Scott has the most blown saves in MLB with seven. There have also been injuries to key guys in the bullpen like Evan Phillips and Michael Kopech.
Dodgers Trade Idea Lands Pirates’ David Bednar
One thing we know for sure, headed into the final weeks before the deadline, is that the Pittsburgh Pirates are likely going to be sellers. The Los Angeles Dodgers could be a great fit for David Bednar, who is having a terrific 2025 campaign. In a recent report by Ken Rosenthal, the baseball insider said the Dodgers are actively shopping for bullpen pieces. Which should come as no surprise when you look at the Dodgers’ track record of the previous deadlines. They acquired Kopech last year at the deadline from the Chicago White Sox, and he was imperative down the stretch and during their World Series run.
Bednar was an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023, but had troubles last year, which saw his ERA inflate to above 5.50. However, it appears that he has regained his plus stuff. Over 32 innings this season, Bednar has a 2.53 ERA, 13 saves, and 45 strikeouts. The Dodgers are likely going to do a closer-by-committee system down the stretch, but Bednar would certainly be a go-to guy if the Dodgers could pull off a deal for him. The 30-year-old reliever comes with a year and a half of control, as he isn’t set to be a free agent until the end of next season.
What Could the Pirates Ask for in Return?
The Los Angeles Dodgers still have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and could afford to give up some prospect capital if it means another World Series run this October. A good return deal for the Pittsburgh Pirates would include outfielder James Outman, shortstop prospect Alex Freeland, and Mike Sirota. That’s two of the Dodgers’ top six prospects, and Outman, whose time has likely run out with the Dodgers.
This would fill the Pirates’ farm system with quality bats, which they desperately need, and also give Outman another chance at everyday opportunities in the outfield. If the Pirates wanted a young pitcher in return to semi-replace Bednar’s production, they could also ask for the Dodgers’ young starter Emmett Sheehan.
At this time of year, every contending team is in the market for relievers, so expect the Dodgers to not only make a big splash but also be in a bidding war with other teams for a hot commodity reliever like Bednar.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Dodgers Trade Idea Lands Pirates All-Star Pitcher appeared first on Heavy Sports.