The 2024 MLB trade deadline is just over a week away, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again in position to make some additions to their roster.
They could use upgrades in the rotation, center field and infield, but starting pitching seems to be front of mind for Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman.
Entering the season, the starting staff was expected to be a strength for the Dodgers, and that played out to be true for multiple months as they hade one of the best units in baseball.
Since then, however, numerous injuries that have taken their toll on the group.
Garrett Croceht is the top arm expected to be available, but there are concerns about his workload as he is coming off Tommy John Surgery and made the transition into the Chicago White Sox rotation.
That has made some clubs hesitant to make a trade for Crochet, but the Dodgers have him at the top of the wish list whether he ends up being a starter or reliever for them, according to Alden González of ESPN:
Chicago White Sox lefty Garrett Crochet is considered to be at the top of the Dodgers’ list, regardless of whether he’s a starter or a reliever the rest of the way (Crochet, a converted starter, has already topped 100 innings after throwing no more than 65 in a season dating to his days at Tennessee).
Crochet holds a 3.02 ERA, 2.36 FIP and 0.95 WHIP across 20 starts this year. He additionally sports a 34.8% strikeout rate that is best among all pitchers, and he’s only walking 5.4% of batters faced.
The 2024 season is Crochet’s first as a full-time starting pitcher, and his 107.1 innings pitched long surpassed a previous career high of 54.1, set in 2021.
Crochet missed the entire 2022 season due to Tommy John surgery and appeared in just 13 games as a reliever last year.
The 25-year-old is under team control via salary arbitration through the 2026 season.
Despite the extra control, the White Sox are expected to trade Crochet as they have been unable to make progress in contract negotiations, so this would be their peak time to sell high.
The Dodgers were said to have made an offer for Crochet already, but it was rejected by the White Sox.
Dodgers interest in more White Sox players
Other players the White Sox have who could be beneficial to the Dodgers are Luis Robert Jr., Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, Erick Fedde and Michael Kopech.
The Dodgers have already shown reported interest in Robert and Pham, and outfield is one of the key needs on their roster.
Robert in particular makes the most sense due to his ability to play center field at an elite level while also offering tremendous offensive upside.
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