With the All-Star break approaching and the MLB trade deadline right around the corner on Aug. 2, speculation involving Cincinnati Reds teammates Brandon Drury and Luis Castillo is beginning to gain some momentum.
The Reds are well out of contention with a record of 33-55, and as they sit in last place in the National League Central, they could look to trade Drury, who has blossomed this season.
Los Angeles Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman is always looking to improve the roster, and a player like Drury could plug some holes in the club’s lineup depth. Chris Taylor is expected to be out until after the All-Star Game, and manager Dave Roberts is rotating an assortment of right-handed bats to fill the void.
Although Taylor won’t miss much more time and other right-handed bats are beginning to heat up, the Dodgers have joined the San Francisco Giants with having interest in a potential Drury trade, per Andy Martino of SNY:
But league sources say the Dodgers and Giants are showing more interest in Drury at present.
Overall this season, Drury has posted a .279 batting average with 18 home runs and 50 RBI. Since the beginning of June, he’s hitting .320 with a .973 on-base plus slugging percentage.
The 29-year-old has played for five different teams during his eight-year MLB career, and his production this season could make him one of the most under-the-radar deadline deals in baseball.
How would a Drury trade impact the Dodgers?
The Dodgers’ offense is No. 1 in the NL against right-handed pitching with a 120 wRC+, but against southpaws, they rank fifth with a 109 wRC+. Drury would be a valuable addition given his versatility to play the infield, and while with the New York Mets last season, he spent time in the outfield.
Drury’s overall numbers would be a great addition to any team, but breaking down his splits makes him even more interesting of a trade target for the Dodgers. Against lefties, he’s posted a .446 wOBA, which ranks seventh in all of baseball, and he’s currently putting up the highest hard-hit rate of his career against lefties.
Because he is on an expiring contract and is having a career year, the asking price shouldn’t be too high for the Dodgers if they choose to pursue a trade.
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