Dodgers Rumors: MLB Insider Links LA to White Sox Lance Lynn as Trade Target

We’re seven days out from the trade deadline, and things look much different for the Dodgers than they did a few weeks ago. No, they haven’t made any deals as of now, but the team’s jumped up to first place in the NL West after looking up at the Arizona Diamondbacks all season.

The bullpen has been performing up to their usual high standards, jumping up from as low as 28th in MLB in relief ERA to 17th in the past six weeks with a 4.10 mark, over a full run better than earlier this season (prior to Monday night’s game).

And the lineup’s been a force this year, averaging about 5.7 runs per game as of Monday, bolstered by an absolutely red hot Freddie Freeman.

If there’s one glaring weakness the Dodgers will need to shore up at the deadline, it’s their starting rotation.

Clayton Kershaw had been one of the best in the sport until he was sidelined with shoulder soreness, and now a timeline for a potential return is up in the air. Julio Urias returned from a nagging hamstring injury, but he’s still been inconsistent. He got hit with the loss in his last outing against the Baltimore Orioles after giving up eight runs on eight hits his last time out. Add in the recent struggles of rookie Emmet Sheehan, and the Dodgers have problems on the mound.

With that said, LA will be looking over their options at the deadline, and White Sox righty Lance Lynn has been linked to the team as a potential trade target, per MLB.com’s Mike Petriello.

And he listed two factors that make him an intriguing candidate:

1) He’s just as effective as he’s ever been against right-handed hitters. They’re hitting just .200/.276/.338 against him this year, which is essentially the same as his career average. Whatever his problem is, it’s mostly not this.

2) His strikeout rate is up. Lynn is striking out nearly 28% of batters he’s faced, which is well above the Major League average and would be his highest since 2019.

(via Mike Petreillo)

There’s some risk to Lynn given that he has a career high 6.18 ERA, but positive traits are still there for the two-time All-Star. Plus, that high ERA should make it cheaper to make a deal for him, and if the stats begin to match up with the traits he’s proven if he were to be coached up by the Dodgers’ staff, it could give LA the starting pitching depth they so desperately need.

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