With just over one month until the July 31 trade deadline, all indications continue to point to the Los Angeles Dodgers likely a move to address their bullpen. That will need come prior to the end of July, as MLB has done away with waiver trades in August.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has twice commented on the possibility, first acknowledging the club would explore trades for a relief pitcher. He later added the caveat an aggressive mindset would not be accompanied by a reckless approach.
Thus far the Dodgers have been linked to the likes of Cleveland Indians closer Brad Hand and San Francisco Giants southpaw Will Smith.
According to Jon Morosi of MLB.com, the Dodgers additionally are said to have interest in vaunted Pittsburgh Pirates reliever Felipe Vazquez:
The Dodgers have interest in the Pittsburgh left-hander, one source said, and are well-situated to acquire him for two reasons: The Dodgers’ farm system is deep enough to afford him, and the acquisition of a dynamic left-hander to pair with Kenley Jansen at the end of the game is the most obvious need for an otherwise near-perfect roster.
Vazquez is under team control through 2023 via options, which presumably would require the Dodgers to tap well into their farm system in order to complete a trade.
The 27-year-old is 1-0 with 19 saves, a 1.91 ERA, 2.36 FIP and 1.09 WHIP in 31 games. That the Dodgers are said to have interest in Vazquez further suggests the club is open to pairing Kenley Jansen with another closer at the backend of the bullpen.
L.A. reportedly had mild interest in former free agent Craig Kimbrel, which Jansen said he would’ve welcomed but not at the cost of surrendering his role as closer.
