Although it feels like the shortened 2020 regular season just began, the MLB trade deadline is less than one week away. Teams have until 1 p.m. PT on Monday, Aug. 31, to complete trades. A player must be on a roster by Sept. 15 in order to be eligible for postseason play.
Considering teams will be just over the midway point in the season and transactions essentially will be limited to those in player pools, there is plenty of uncertainty with this season’s trade deadline. Also factoring in is an expanded postseason.
“Right now it’s been kind of more flirting,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman told Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser during the SportsNet LA broadcast on Sunday.
“It’s hard, because so many teams are within squinting distance of a playoff spot, and it makes it trickier. I think the ones who end up being sellers haven’t really identified themselves yet. A lot of conversations are hypotheticals.”
The Dodgers historically have been active at the trade deadline under Friedman’s stewardship, completing minor transactions and blockbusters over the years. It stands to reason odds are high the Dodgers would complete a trade this season, but for now they remain on the peripherary.
“I think for the most part our mindset in this is just to be around the backboard and get a feel for what’s potentially moving and what the cost is,” Friedman said.
L.A. reached the midway point of the season on Sunday when they completed a sweep of the Colorado Rockies. They have the best record in baseball at 22-8 and are leading the Majors in several categories, including run differential, home runs and team ERA.
Different trade deadline for Friedman, Roberts
In a season that is unique for many reasons, the trade deadline has served as another reminder of such for Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
“Considerably less,” he said of conversations with Friedman. “This is sort of sneaking up on me, probably not so much Andrew and his staff. I don’t know if it’s the lack of anticipation, the lack of need when you look at our ballclub.”
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