With the All-Star break winding down and the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline just over two weeks away, trade speculation figures to heat up across the league. The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox began the proverbial trade season on Thursday with a deal centered around Jose Quintana.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have been most prominently linked to three areas: a starting pitcher, left-handed reliever, and right-handed batter. Of the three, the club appears to be most-focused on acquiring a relief pitcher.
The Dodgers reportedly have interest in Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton, in order to pair him with Kenley Jansen. It’s a setup Los Angeles previously pursued when they reached a tentative agreement to trade for Aroldis Chapman during the 2015 Winter Meetings.
According to Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball, the Dodgers also have interest in Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson and San Diego Padres left-handed reliever Brad Hand:
dodgers seeks to add lefty reliever. besides britton, they're interested in hand, wilson, presumably doolittle, others.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 13, 2017
The Dodgers’ interest in Hand, who represented the Padres in the 2017 MLB All-Star Game, was previously reported in June. He’s 2-4 with two saves, a 2.30 ERA, 2.79 FIP and 1.00 WHIP in 42 games this season.
Wilson is among the multiple Tigers players believed to be on the trading block in some capacity if the club elects to sell at the deadline. In May, Wilson replaced Francisco Rodriguez as the Tigers’ primary closer.
Wilson has converted 10 of 11 save opportunities. One of his saves came in April, while the blown save came in Wilson’s second opportunity after being anointed Detroit’s new closer. Like with Britton, the 29-year-old Wilson is eligible for salary arbitration this winter.
If the Dodgers and Tigers are to align on a trade, whether for Wilson or possibly J.D. Martinez, it may include Alex Verdugo, who Detroit reportedly has atop their wish list.
Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi recently said he does not see a scenario in which the club would part with Verdugo in a trade prior to the non-waiver deadline.
