Given the nature of a short 60-game regular season, the 2020 MLB trade deadline is just around the corner on Monday, Aug. 31.
Opening Day feels as though it was just a couple weeks ago, and there is no Minor League season to evaluate prospects, which could make deals tough to make for executives around the league. Additionally, with an expanded postseason, a number of teams that wouldn’t be in the mix for a playoff spot in another year, may not be motivated to sell.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are typically a team looking to buy at the trade deadline, and that may be the case again in 2020 as they gear up for another postseason run.
Despite that, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed he and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman have not discussed potential additions much compared to other years.
“Considerably less. 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,” Roberts said.
“But obviously Andrew and the baseball ops. guys are going to be kicking tires to the end and seeing if there’s anything on the margins that we can get better. I won’t sit here and say what we need or what I think, because I think we’re in a good spot. I’m just not ready for it, and I don’t know how active teams will be but it’ll be interesting.”
The Dodgers currently own the best record in all of baseball and after adding Mookie Betts, Blake Treinen, Brusdar Graterol and others in the offseason, they do not have many needs to address at the deadline.
L.A. could perhaps use a starting pitcher or maybe a right-handed bat to address their struggles against left-handed pitching. With only players in the 60-man player pool eligible to be traded though, Friedman may not be as motivated to address those needs.
Dodgers also receiving reinforcements from within organization
In addition to potential acquisitions on the trade market, the Dodgers also could be getting some reinforcements from within the organization in the coming weeks.
Alex Wood threw a simulated game and came out of it feeling healthy, so that could be another starting pitcher to add to the mix.
Young players like Tony Gonsolin and Gavin Lux are also at the team’s alternate training site waiting for their numbers to be called, so L.A. certainly won’t be lacking in options when the time to put a postseason roster together comes.
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