Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Has No Regrets Over Lackluster Trade Deadline Activity
The Dodgers’ NLDS loss to the Padres does not fall on one person or moment. There are so many people who didn’t do their job, and countless moments that could have gone differently.
One of those moments came well before the NLDS when the MLB’s trade deadline was approaching back in August.
The Dodgers had some decisions to make, mainly in regard to their starting pitching. At the time, it was (at least publicly) expected that Walker Buehler would be returning before the postseason. And it was expected that Dustin May would be returning to a full-time role as a starting pitcher. So there didn’t really seem to be a need for another arm.
But still, the Dodgers were among the teams reportedly interested in adding a starting pitcher, most notably Luis Castillo or Pablo Lopez. The Dodgers ended up getting neither.
“I don’t regret not doing a bad deal for us,” Friedman said in regards to not getting a starter at the deadline. “I don’t think it was our starting pitching, or our pitching in general, that’s the reason we’re here today.”
I do agree with Friedman that the starting pitching was not the issue. However, I do think the trade deadline played a big role in the Dodgers losing this series. While LA mainly stood pat, acquiring just Chris Martin (who was one of the team’s best relievers down the stretch) and Joey Gallo (who didn’t play a second of postseason baseball), the Padres went all-in. They got Juan Soto, Josh Bell, Brandon Drury and Josh Hader, and loaded up for a postseason run.
Chris Martin has a 1.80 ERA with the Dodgers pic.twitter.com/ZABK7sA49T
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) September 20, 2022
In the 7th inning of Game 4, when the Dodgers led 3-2, the Padres hit a game-tying single. Who hit it? Trade deadline acquisition Juan Soto. And when the Dodgers were down in the 9th in Games 2, 3 and 4, the Padres brought in their closer who completely shut LA down. Who was that? Trade deadline acquisition Josh Hader.
Obviously, the Dodgers didn’t lose by not making a splashy acquisition, but you could argue the Padres won for making theirs. So Friedman may not have regrets about not making a move, but the Padres seem more than happy without their top prospects as they get set to play the Phillies in the NLCS.
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
With the news about Fraudberts, we will be in this exact same position next year. We may not even reach the postseason next year for all we know.
Wow. Just Wow.
Friedman is a cancer, not only to the Dodgers but all of baseball.
And he shouldn’t have any regrets. The roster had nothing to do with why they lost. They had all they needed to win it all, $270 million worth of players. The players just choked, yet again.
The Padres picked up 3 very important pieces. Bob Melvin, ” Bob Melvin” who is a bonafide excellent manager that always get’s more out his players. And the Trade deadline getting Soto and Hader and Bell. All of Who’m sent the Dodgers packing. So No regrets from Friedman who just blew 270 million, and allowed the Padres to embarrass the Dodgers. No Regrets! Great job….
You should have regrets. The organization makes and has more money than God. Lack of pitching killed the year. Padres spent and had excellent trade moves at the deadline. I know they spend tons and I do appreciate it but the pitching was to thin even if they made it past the Padres.