National Broadcaster Has Surprising Trade Deadline Advice for Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers had a brutal week losing Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to injuries. While neither is lost for the season, their loss delivers a big blow.
The injuries have also sparked conversation regarding the trade deadline and whether or not the Dodgers should sign a shortstop or another starting pitcher. Fox Sports MLB Write Rowan Kavner spoke with Hall of Famer and baseball analyst John Smoltz about the decision the Dodgers are facing.
“I don’t think they have to be desperate,” Smoltz said. “I think they’re gonna win the division, obviously, unless somebody really gets hot in the NL West. They have that going for them, and they can be patient and kind of cherry-pick. But if they do show desperation and really go after pieces that alter their future with some of the prospects they have, I just think it’s going to be a wait-and-see scenario. I think they’re good enough with their roster to win the division easily.
“Now, I don’t know how important having one of those two best records is to them. But they’re in a great spot, despite some of the bad injuries. You look at the two front-runners before the season started, both the Braves and Dodgers have lost a significant pitcher and a significant player. And everyone else seems to be OK when it comes to some of the injuries. Although Philadelphia has had their share of injuries recently, they’re getting Trea Turner back. It’s kind of a hold, hold, hold, and then cherry-pick a player when one of those teams falls off.”
Smoltz isn’t wrong. The Dodgers are in a great spot. Entering Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, the Dodgers had a comfortable nine-game lead in the division. They have a rising star in Gavin Stone, who is more than capable of filling in for Yamamoto, and Miguel Rojas is actually a defensive upgrade at shortstop.
The next few weeks will answer any questions that the Dodgers need answered. Until then, the team will continue to play with the best lineup possible.
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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For help in the playoffs (and the future): Luis Robert. Rojas is much improved at the plate this year. When Betts comes back, keep Rojas at short, move Betts to 2d base. Can’t Vargas be given an audition at 3B? Muncy is now questionable for 3B in the playoffs. Past trade deadline deals have not generally yielded players who remained with the team: Darvish, Machado, Sherzer, Trea Turner, Lance Lynn — all were gone soon after the trade, and whatever was traded away was lost. Luis Robert might stick around for a while. Luis Robert in center field, with Tesocar in left or right (when Heyward sits, for left-handers), Pages and Heyward platoon, Pages in left when Heywood sits. This would be an improved offense with the defense just as good. Oakland’s relief pitcher Mason Miller might help. It would have been better, in hindsight, to keep Michael Busch, who now would be playing 2d base and 3d base, and would be on the roster today in place of Vargas or ?