The Los Angeles Dodgers have continued to march toward a third consecutive World Series title.
They entered Wednesday with a major league best 56-30 record. The Dodgers have the best OPS (.791) in baseball, leading the second-place Pittsburgh Pirates by 37 points. The Dodgers also have the fourth-best ERA (3.43) in the majors, only seven points behind the Yankees.
Although the Dodgers may be the team to beat, they still have holes to fill ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Let’s look at three areas the Dodgers may target in the coming weeks.
Los Angeles Dodgers biggest needs ahead of trade deadline
1. Another starting pitcher
Although the Dodgers’ pitching as a whole has been stellar, there are potential concerns. Roki Sasaki has had moments where he flashed his potential, but has been generally mediocre at best. Fellow starter Emmet Sheehan has been worse.
The Dodgers should be getting reinforcements back in the coming weeks. Tyler Glasnow began a throwing program, while Blake Snell threw a bullpen session on Saturday. However, neither pitcher is a paragon of health. Meanwhile, Justin Wrobleski has thrown the most innings of his major league career. The Dodgers need at least one, if not two, pitchers to bolster the rotation.
2. High-leverage bullpen arms
The Dodgers thought they had their bullpen issues fixed when they signed closer Edwin Diaz to a three-year deal. He landed on the Injured List after seven appearances, getting roughed up for six runs on seven hits and two walks over one inning.
Diaz should return by the trade deadline, as he is expected to face hitters sometime between July 3 and July 5. Tanner Scott has been excellent in Diaz’s place and should continue to hold down the fort. The question is whether or not the current relief corps can continue to be a bridge to the late innings.
3. Improving their depth
The pitching staff is not the only area that has dealt with key injuries. Catcher Will Smith and utility man Enrique Hernandez are on the IL. Fellow utility man Tommy Edman was activated from the IL on June 16. Adding another utility option that can play in the infield and outfield could be a priority.
The Dodgers may also look at their overall depth in the minor leagues. Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that the Dodgers could trade some of their top prospects to bolster the depth of their farm system. That would create an interesting dynamic between the Dodgers and selling teams looking to acquire talent for the future.