With only a handful of days remaining until the MLB trade deadline at 3 p.m. PT on Aug. 2, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the process of determining whether to bring in reinforcements for the stretch run.
The club hasn’t made a move to this point as they seemingly are in a holding pattern due to the Juan Soto sweepstakes after he rejected a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals.
The Dodgers have also been linked to Cincinnati Reds teammates Luis Castillo and Brandon Drury, Whit Merrifield of the Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins’ Garrett Cooper, and were said to have held interest in Andrew Benitendi before he was traded to the New York Yankees.
Any of the aforementioned names would help make the Dodgers a better team, but manager Dave Roberts is content with his current group of players. “No, there’s no need,” Roberts said of the upcoming trade deadline.
“You can always get better, but looking at our 26, and then you kind of look out to four to six more players that are getting healthy, there’s certainly no need. But there’s always a way you can get better and we’re always kind of kicking tires, but certainly no need.”
While Roberts doesn’t believe a move is required, the Dodgers would benefit from the addition of a relief pitcher. Injuries and the club being in the midst of playing 18 consecutive games led to Garrett Cleavinger pitching the eighth inning in Tuesday’s loss to the Miami Marlins.
“I think that’s one moment in time,” Roberts began. “I think the bet and expectation as we look out, getting guys back in the ‘pen.
“Dustin May is another arm that we can use as a starter or we can use him out of the ‘pen, along with Graterol, Treinen, Kahnle. So those are acquisitions in itself. To expect all of them to come back and hit the ground running, probably unrealistic.
“But I still believe the most of those guys, the leverage guys, that’s a probable expectation.”
Despite not feeling a trade is necessary, Roberts will support any moves made by the Dodgers front office. “I just think Andrew and the guys are very cognizant of the dynamic and how any player would affect the clubhouse,” Roberts said.
“They’re just very good at the net benefit of what you have to give up versus what you add. I stand by we don’t need anything, but like I do stand by as well, any team can always get better on the margins.
“So if there’s something that makes sense, I have all the confidence in our guys that they’ll pull the trigger. If not and it’s the status quo, then we’ll move forward.”
Roberts doesn’t see challenge incorporating new players with Dodgers
In the event the Dodgers do add new players to their roster within the coming days, Roberts is confident they will quickly get accustomed to the team. “You know, I don’t think with what we have now with the culture of our ballclub, our team is always in conversation as far as at the deadline,” Roberts said.
“Because we have a great system, we’re always trying to win a championship. So this is nothing new to us. So our job is just to continue to go out there and play good baseball.
“And also, I think that we’ve also learned that Andrew and the front office has done a great job in the sense that if there is a need, they’re not afraid to go out and do something. But for us to sit around and wonder what could or couldn’t happen, that just isn’t helpful.”
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