Dodgers Should Be Really Selective in Who They Trade For, Dave Roberts Opines
The 2023 Dodgers were supposed to take a step back. They were supposed to be a lesser version of themselves as they allowed the young kids in their farm system a chance to show what they could do. Well, it looks like LA didn’t get the memo.
Despite everything going against the Dodgers so far this season, they remain an extremely competitive team and hold sole possession of first place in the National League West as we near the trade deadline.
Last week, the Dodgers showed a bit of what their capable of while grabbing series wins over two of the best teams in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers. And they also took two of three from the New York Mets, who despite their record, are a talented group.
This team seems to be clicking right now, and the front office has already shown a willingness to get better on the margins with deals for Amed Rosario and old friend Kiké Hernandez. They’re certainly not done wheeling and dealing. But manager Dave Roberts doesn’t want the Dodgers to just add anyone, he says it needs to make sense.
“We’re at a position as an organization, we can say no to players and we can pick and choose who fits what we do,” Roberts said recently. “They got to fit and so there’s a lot that goes into not only talent, but they got to fit with what we’re trying to do.”
Per The Athletic
Roberts is correct in saying that LA can say no to players. They could not make any moves and still likely reach the postseason. It’s also better to make no trade at all than to make a bad one.
President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman understands this better than most other executives in the league, as he has been heralded as one of the top front office staff in baseball. He normally ends up with the better side of any trade, and there is no reason to think that won’t happen again.
After adding a couple right-handed bats, LA still has a need for their pitching staff. They are likely to be aggressive in doing so as the trade deadline approaches, with the hope that the moves help get them a better chance of winning the World Series this season.
Roberts understands this and he just wants to see his club bring in the right people. This clubhouse is a close unit so anyone that joins will need to fit in.
The players have proved that this is a team worth investing in, and that wasn’t always the case this season. If they can add in a few pieces to this club to shore up some holes, they will be a very tough out come October.
Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Please subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more all year long!
