Brandon Gomes: Dodgers Weighing Pros & Cons Of Trading From Pitching Depth

3 Min Read
Los Angeles Dodgers General Manager Brandon Gomes meets the press in San Antonio, Texas, on Nov. 6, 2024, over two-way star Shohei Ohtani's left shoulder injury following successful surgery the previous day. (Photo by Kyodo News via Getty Images)

The Los Angeles Dodgers made a splash earlier this offseason when they signed Edwin Díaz to a three-year, $69 million contract and still might have another big move or two up their sleeve before the start of Spring Training in February.

The team reportedly has their sights on adding a position player who is good on both sides of the ball, with Brendan Donovan, Steven Kwan and Lars Nootbaar among the players being linked to L.A.

If the Dodgers go the trade route, they would presumably look to part with some of the pitching depth they have stockpiled over the years.

General manager Brandon Gomes acknowledged the possibility and said the club is weighing the pros and cons of dealing from one of their strengths, via Sonja Chen of MLB.com:

“We know that pitching depth is fleeting,” general manager Brandon Gomes said at the Winter Meetings. “Now, that doesn’t mean if there’s a deal that we feel like, ‘Hey, the risk-reward is worth it, we’ll do it.’ But everything comes with its pros and cons.”

As it currently stands, the Dodgers are set to have a surplus of starting pitching when the 2026 season begins. Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Emmet Sheehan and Roki Sasaki could be part of a six-man rotation barring any injuries or other moves.

The team is also expected to get back River Ryan and Gavin Stone from injury, meaning there will be a few pitchers on the outside looking in when it comes time for Opening Day.

Even if some of the aforementioned pitchers have to accept a lesser role, it stands to reason they will get a chance to contribute at some point during the 2026 season.

The Dodgers understand the importance of pitching depth so it will be interesting to see how motivated they are to subtract from the group.

Brandon Gomes: Dodgers taking ‘very targeted’ approach

Gomes previously noted the Dodgers would be very deliberate with potential roster moves this offseason and that has been the case so far.

The team re-signed Miguel Rojas to a one-year contract and added Díaz to fill a hole in the back of their bullpen.

If the Dodgers decide to make a another trade, it would presumably be for a player who addresses another important need such as in the outfield.

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Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a senior editor for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on X/Twitter: @mcborelli.
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