Note – This was written prior to the Reds game.
It is a long 162 game season, and teams have multiple peaks in valleys in that stretch. At what point do you believe it is more of a trend (positive or negative) rather than a blip.
For the month of July, the Dodgers are 8-13, including 0-9 against two certain playoff teams (MIL and HOU). They were 3-0 against a bottom dweller (CWS) and 5-4 against bubble teams (SF, MIN, and BOS).
The team has not been good in any aspect of the game. Offensively for the month of June:
- BA – .221 – #27
- OBP – .297 – #27
- SLG – .327 – #26
- OPS – .673 – #28
- Runs – 79 – #28 (3.76 run/game)
- HR – 28 – #10
- fWAR – (-8.7) – #26
- K% – 24.4% – #5
- BB% – 8.8% – #9
- wRC+ – 89 (100 ML Average) – #25
- wRISP – the team is 31-138 (.225), opposing team is 47-180 (.261)
There is not one encouraging number that can be spun to make it look better. For the month of July, there is no denying that LAD is one of the worst offensive teams in MLB.
Individually for the month of July, in order of OPS:
- Will Smith – .345/.463/.582/1.045 (67 PA)
- Miguel Rojas – .250/.388/.525/.913 (49 PA)
- Shohei Ohtani – .225/.340/.563/.903 (94 PA)
- Michael Conforto – .276/.323/.517/.840 (62 PA)
- Andy Pages – .250/.310/.408/.717 (84 PA)
- Teoscar Hernández – .214/.279/.357/.636 (61 PA)
- Freddie Freeman – .228/.299/.304/.603 (87 PA)
- Mookie Betts – .186/.234/.314/.548 (77 PA)
- Hyeseong Kim – .204/.218/.222/.440 (1 BB v 22K) (55 PA)
- Tommy Edman – .150/.239/.200/.439 (68 PA)
- Dalton Rushing – .200/.192/.240/.432 (26 PA)
Per Fangraphs:
Andy Pages has the same amount of WAR (3.1) as Mookie Betts (1.3) and Freddie Freeman (1.8) combined pic.twitter.com/wfAyhDRB7M
— Jacob Brownson (@brownsonjacob2) July 28, 2025
The longest win streak for the month of July (3 games against CWS). They have had 2 other 2 game win streaks. That’s it.
They have had a 7 game losing streak, and a 3 game losing streak. The team has lost 3 games on their 7 game lead on June 30.
Their biggest lead was 9.0 games on July 3. That was the last CWS game, and coincidentally (or not), that was one game after Max Muncy was injured and placed on the IL.
Pitching has not been very good either. But their pitching is getting into more focus. Tyler Glasnow is now back in the rotation. He has started 3 games and has 18.0 IP. His ERA is 1.00 in those games. He has issued 5 BB to 23 K, 4.6 K/BB.
Shohei Ohtani is up to 3.0 IP per game and will increase it to 4.0 IP next start. In his 3 July starts, Ohtani has 8.0 IP and allowed 1 ER (1.125). He has issued 3 BB to 13 K, 4.33 K/BB.
Blake Snell, who has a history of dominating pitching in the second half, will start against Tampa Bay next weekend.
That could push Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Clayton Kershaw to #4 and #5 as the year progresses. Will wait to see who emerges as #6 in the 6 man rotation after the trade deadline.
Bullpen is getting a big lift at the back end with the return of Blake Treinen. Michael Kopech should be back around August 27. Ben Casparius is returning to the role he excelled at for the first few months. I am hoping that Tanner Scott comes back after a reset, and pitches as he was expected to do. He is certainly capable.
While I have never been in on any team trade discussions, I have talked to multiple scouts and agents who, while not in the actual negotiations, have been involved in some capacity. There is no consensus as to what any one team is going to do at any specific trade deadline.
Fans have their preference, and it will be across the board, just like trades and FA in the winter.
One other area we need to look at is what has AF done at the deadline. ALMOST exclusively he has traded for rentals or for players with only one year of control remaining. The last four years – 10 rentals and 4 with one year of team control remaining. Players with multiple years of control involved in LAD trades are their players.
- 2024 – Tommy and Michael Kopech – 1 year control for both
- 2024 – Amed Rosario – Rental
- 2024 – Kevin Kiermaier – Rental
- 2024 – Jack Flaherty – Rental
- 2023 – Kiké Hernández – Rental
- 2023 – Amed Rosario – Rental
- 2023 – Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly – Rentals
- 2023 – Ryan Yarbrough – 1 year control
- 2022 – Joey Gallo – Rental
- 2022 – Chris Martin – Rental
- 2021 – Max Scherzer and Trea Turner – Scherzer was a rental and Turner had 1 year of control
Outside of Eugenio Suárez, there is not a real difference maker offensively, and Arizona is not going to trade with LAD. Rental OF they could look at are Harrison Bader, Ryan O’Hearn, and Ramón Laureano. O’Hearn primarily plays 1B/DH.
Steven Kwan, with 3 years control, would be a huge difference maker, but Cleveland is not likely to trade him.
Brendan Donovan has been discussed, but he also has 3 years control. The Dodgers are not going to get Kwan or Donovan without a heavy top 100 prospect cost. Never say never, but highly unlikely for either.
I will be surprised if the Dodgers trade for a position player except maybe for a bench bat.
The Dodgers do not need a SP. Unless Paul Skenes or Tarik Skubal become available, the Dodgers are not looking to add another SP.
The Dodgers have never shown a likelihood of spending big prospect capital for relievers with 3+ years of control. I cannot see them trading for Emmanuel Clase or Jhoan Duran or Griffin Jax.
I can see them interested in David Bednar (1 year control) with one year control, but a more likely trade target from Pittsburgh would be for Dennis Santana (1 year control).
I can also see them interested in Ryan Helsley, a rental, but a more likely target from St. Louis is Phil Maton, also a rental.
Anthony Bender (Miami), Danny Coulombe (Minnesota), Pierce Johnson (Atlanta), Seranthony Dominguez (Baltimore). Bender would be an anomaly (2+ years of control). Johnson has a $7MM 2026 team option with a $250K buyout. Coulombe and Dominguez are rentals.
That is six possible relief options that will not cost big prospect capital. I am almost positive that the pool is large enough that AF/BG could/will come up with a someone I never even considered.
Assuming Alexis Diaz is optioned when Snell is activated, the team has to decide who will be an improvement over what the team currently has:
- Blake Treinen (R)
- Alex Vesia (L)
- Anthony Banda (L)
- Jack Dreyer (L)
- Ben Casparius (R)
- Justin Wrobleski (L)
- Dustin May (R) or Emmet Sheehan (R) (whichever is not in rotation)
- Kirby Yates (R) ( I assume it is possible he gets DFA’d if the Dodgers can improve the team.)
- Michael Kopech (R) – Late August
- Tanner Scott (R) – August
- Roki Sasaki (R) – August
IMO, the pitching (SP and RP) will be more than fine for the playoffs. It is the offense that concerns me. Most on this site continue to say that Mookie, Freddie, Teoscar, Shohei (outside of HR), and Edman will be fine and revert to their exceptional standards. But this downturn has been going for 2 months for these players. When is it going to turn? Then there is the opinion that everything will be fine once Max gets back. Which Max Muncy? The early season or the May/June Max?
This team will make the playoffs. While the offense has carried the team for most of the year, it will be the pitching that was expected to dominate that will carry the team the last two months and into the playoffs. Is July just an anomaly or is it a trend for an aging team?
We also know that AF hates trading for relievers at the deadline, which is why he said he went all in on relievers during the Winter. Does he change for this deadline? Part of me says he is not going to change. But IMO, AF/BG/Dodger owners want more than anything to win a second consecutive WS, something which has not been done since 2000. Thus the $400MM+ AAV payroll.
Before Bradley has the Dodgers trading for Sonny Gray, Gray is not going to waive his no-trade clause.
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/cardinals-rumors-sonny-gray-no-trade-clause.html
Isn’t everything negotiable?
Technically, yes. But when a player with a full no trade clause says he is not leaving St. Louis, he cannot be forced to. Gray is owed a guaranteed $40MM for next year ($35MM) and a $5M buyout for his $30MM club option for 2027.
At the very least, the acquiring club would need to guarantee Gray’s 2027 option. How many teams are willing to spend $65MM for two years of a 36 year old pitcher.
Bednar and Bader.
Anagramtastic
Means you have to make 2 trades. Bader is also coveted by the Yankees and Mets.
Just reported by MLBTR, Alex Freeland is being called up to the Dodgers. They had an opening on the 40-man, so only a move on the 26-man is needed. Outman most likely candidate to be sent down. Treinen a little rusty, but Dryer bailed him out. Mookie looked more Mookie like tonight. Mets and Yankees both interested in Bader.
Looks like KIm could use a reset at OKC.
Freeland might be a good SS, but he is not that good at third. He has 6 errors in just 26 games. Kim has a shoulder problem and should go on the IL.
Kim to the IL makes sense.
Or Edman.
Or both.
Seems like Kike won’t be back for a while…
Getting Max back should help a lot.
Sounds like Muncy will be back sooner than expected initially.
He starts a rehab assignment with OKC tomorrow.
Umpire tonight was crap. At least he sucked both ways.
His zone was all over the place.
The more I watch Dalton Rushing behind the dish, the more impressed I get. I do not know what the Dodgers have in mind for Rushing, but he is a legit MLB starting catcher. He is not getting traded for a rental. But it is possible he could be the headliner in a major trade in the winter.
i think this is right, i just don’t think i understand why.
What is the difference between trading more or in the winter? Do you get more in the off-season?
More teams are bidding. Dalton could bring back a significant ML player and not just prospects. There are a lot of teams out there who could use a Dalton Rushing behind the dish.
Plus the Dodgers need him this year, even for twice a week. You do not like changing catchers in the middle of the season.
I agree that he is a very good young catcher, but I think there is a good chance he gets moved. Honestly, he doesn’t have much of a future with the club unless something happens to Will Smith, unless he is ok with being a backup catcher and playing once or twice a week for the rest of his career. Something tells me they’ve already had this discussion with him and it wouldn’t surprise me if he wants to be a starting catcher. That would have to be somewhere else.
If he can bring back a strong reliever, or even Steven Kwan, then you have to move him. Hunter Fedducia can come up and be the backup catcher.
Right now, they have to go 38-17 over their last 55 games to win 100 games. They have to win 28 of their last 55 just to reach 90 wins. It’s very unlikely they are going to get to those marks with the pitching and defense the way it is. Right now they are on pace to win 10 less games then they did last year.
One other guy they should try and pick up is Mitch Keller. I know they technically don’t need another starter, with Glasnow and Snell back, but Keller is remarkebly consistent, and eats a lot of innings and he is rarely injured.
Don’t think I said Rushing would not get traded. I have always believed he would be. I think I was clear that I thought he would be traded in the offseason and not at the deadline. But unless it involves Steven Kwan, I cannot see AF/BG trading him this year because of the great rapport he has developed with the pitchers. Yoshi/Glasnow/Kershaw have all gone out of their way to give Rush complements as to how well he called the game and how he adjusted when needed.
I cannot see the Dodgers messing up that pitcher/catcher relationship unless it involves a position player such as Steven Kwan.
It will not take Rushing to get Helsley from St. Louis. IMO, he is more of who the Dodgers would covet since he is a rental.
So the Dodgers who are playing at a .579 clip right now, and their starting pitching is just rounding into shape with Snell due back this weekend and Ohtani ramping up to 4.0 innings, is going to play .509 baseball. And that you expect the offense to continue to play at the July level for the next two months? And with an easier schedule.
You think the Dodgers need another SP? He would not be in the playoff rotation, so just getting a 6th SP to replace Sheehan improves this team to play above .509 baseball?
So what’s the package for Helsley + Donovan?
Or for Bader + Duran or Jax?
Another idea, closer to home:
Kenley + Taylor Ward.
Call me sentimental, but I like this idea.
Actually I like the KJ amd Ward combo. I really would like to see KJ end his career in a LAD uniform.
From the Trade Simulator:
Cardinals GET:
Roki Sasaki
Gavin Stone
Total Value: 43
Dodgers GET
Ryan Helsley
Steven Matz
Brendan Donovan
Total Value 41.2
OR
Cardinals GET
Emmet Sheehan
Jackson Ferris
Total Value 44.7
Dodgers GET
Ryan Helsley
Brendan Donovan
Total Value: 42.10
I agree with you that he’s a very good young catcher. His catching and game calling skills are excellent. I would rather they keep him, but is he ok with being the backup for the next 6-7 years? Something tells me that he probably wants to go somewhere where he can play everyday.
Not sure how easy the schedule looks. They have some tough games coming up. Series against Tampa Bay, Toronto, St. Louis, they have 6 games versus San Diego, a 6-game east coast trip in early September, and 3 games against Philly.
I agree that the pitching should be better going forward with Glasnow, Snell and Treinen back. But how confident are you that those guys can stay healthy the rest of the way? I also agree that right now they may not need a starting pitcher, but having a pitcher like Keller who is consistent, eats innings and is rarely injured isvery valuable down the stretch.
The team has 55 games remaining. Given how the team has been playing since mid April, how many games do you think they will win? Do you think they can win 30 of 55? Right now that is debatable. if you subtract their 9-1 start, the team is 53-46, 7 games above .500. If they go 28-27 the rest of the way, they finish 90-72. I think they will win the division, (the rest of the NL West is weak this year anyways), but this year’s team is considerably weaker than last year’s club. I think they finish 8-10 wins less than last year.
I am not disagreeing that Rushing will not want to be a backup until he reaches FA. He shouldn’t have to. But does he have to be traded in the next 48 hours?
The average W-L record for the 13 teams they will be playing is 51-56. Yes they have Toronto (3) and Philly (3). Those are the only for sure playoff teams. But they also have Colorado (7), Pittsburgh (3) and Baltimore (3).
Do I think the pitchers will stay healthy? Why not? If you want to think negatively, okay. I choose to think that Glasnow, Snell and Treinen will stay healthy. I also think that Scott will come back healthy for the rest of the year. Snell has come back and stayed healthy every year he went on the IL.
I do not care if the Dodgers win 100 games. I only care that they make the playoffs. I prefer they win the NL West and get the bye. But if not, which team will look forward to facing Yamamoto, Snell, Glasnow, and Ohtani.
They win 90, win the division, and go to the playoffs, I am more than satisfied with that.
I don’t care if the Dodgers win 100 either, I was just using it as a reference point to illustrate that the team has been mostly average since mid April, and is playing .500 ball-ish for the majority of the season. They are on pace to win around 88 games. The team has not played well and has not been impressive at all. Even as I write this right now, they are losing 4-2 and bases are loaded, so soon to be more.
“Do I think the pitchers will stay healthy? Why not? If you want to think negatively, okay. I choose to think that Glasnow, Snell and Treinen will stay healthy.”
Is this based on their incredible track record of health? When has any of their pitchers stayed healthy? Do you think Tanner Scott is going to come off the IL and save the day? Will Joe Kelly ride to the rescue?
Sorry Jeff, but I think they just suck this year. They are a sad, sorry watered down knockoff of last year’s championship club. Last year we got a Ferrari, and this year we got a rusty chevy pinto.
Scott, Chevy did not make the Pinto. That was Ford, but it might be a clunky Vega.
Ha ha ha I’m obviously not a car guy Bear.
Scott is our Pinto. Liable to erupt in flames. Yates is our Vega. Conforto is the Corvair.
Makes sense. It’s the idea that more teams bidding outweighs the urgency/need fewer teams face at the deadline.
On the other hand, teams should have a better idea about their immediate needs at the deadline. Those winter deals are more of a crapshoot.
Last summer, AF and BG swung deals for Edman, Kopech, Flaherty and Kiermeier. All paid off handsomely–and does anyone here think the Dodgers gave up too much? Anyone pining for Miguel Vargas or Thayron Liranzo?
Then AF started talking about how the summertime prices were high–and so he proceeded to overpay for Scott, Yates and Conforto…
A little thought experiment: Would the Dodgers be out of first place if they had passed on that pricey trio?
They’d probably be in the first, but would they be better positioned for a WS?
Doubtful and, ironically, I can imagine in your thought experiment people pining for the acquisition of Scott or Yates at the trade deadline if they hadn’t been already acquired.
Maybe. But I have little confidence that Scott, Yates or Conforto will be crucial in getting to the postseason, or winning it.
Could be wrong, of course.
But the mid-season pickups Edman, Kopech and Flaherty all played vital roles.
Miguel Vargas, Thayron Liranzo, Trey Sweeney, Ryan Yarbrough, Alexander Albertus, and Jeral Perez are not Dalton Rushing. If AF/BG thought they could get a comp to the quad group they acquired last year with what they gave up, they will do so. If that is your argument, then sure I am all in. But that was not how the discussion started. The discussion was Rushing, and his value at the deadline vs winter. What reliever would you trade Dalton Rushing for? Jhoan Duran? David Bednar? Rentals like Ryan Helsley, Pete Fairbanks and Kyle Finnegan? I bet AF/BG wouod not have to include Rushing for Helsley? AF/BG may not be willing to pay the asking price anyway for Helsley. The rumors today seem to put multiple teams ahead of LAD for Bednar. IMO, the Dodgers will look in the Michael Kopech aisle. Dennis Santana, Phil Maton, Anthony Bender, Andrew Kittridge, Pierce Johnson. I can even see them trading for Michael Soroka and sticking him in the pen. This is whare AF/BG generally do their reliever shopping. I agree they overpaid for Scott and Yates. I don’t think they want to duplicate that mistake.
Seemed like the discussion was about the relative risk of midseason deals versus supposedly less pricey winter deals. I think AF proved that winter deals can be both pricey and misguided–and by contrast he handled the deadline well last season with enonomical choices. (I also think his deadline blockbuster for Trea Turner and Scherzer worked out well.)
Rushing is a valuable commodity. I think I would have put him in a deal for Crochet–especially knowing what we know now. As for RPs, I might deal him for Mason Miller, who obviously would not be a rental.
Some day the A’s will be dealing Miller…
Still needs that first real HR 😉
Not for me he doesn’t. His job is to manage the pitching game, and he has done a masterful job of that the two months he has been up. From Kersh to Yamamoto to Glasnow who have all gone out of their way to praise Rush for his game calling.
He is also making better contact. His K rate for July is way down compared to May/June.
He has done a great job of replacing Barnes and from here on out has more offensive upside. If nothing else than keeping Smith strong the rest of the way he will have made a big contribution.
Fantastic much needed 7 ace like innings from Yamamoto. The only run was because of the idiot umpire blowing a strike 3.
Interesting that it took 3 weeks after Muncy injury for Freland to be called up. Why now? I doubt a couple of games in the bigs would be for any trade showcase.
Roberts’ said either Kim (shoulder) or Edman (ankle) could go on the IL. Edman apparently tweaked his ankle again on the basepath yesterday
Ahh, that makes sense.
Kim to the IL with bursitis in his shoulder
Not sure when this happened, but Manfred was confronted by Bryce Harper in the Phillies clubhouse and told to leave after he mentioned the possibility of a salary cap. MLB network covered that story this afternoon. Good chance the players come together and have a stop work strike after the 26 season unless there is less animosity than there seems to be now. CBA expires after the 26 season.
Just my opinion, but I do not see the players striking after the 2026 season. There is no advantage or reason to strike. But there will be a lockout by the owners when the CBA expires, and this one may not end early. The owners are dead set on getting a cap, and Manfred is trying to convince the players that a cap is in THE PLAYERS best interest.
Well he should be advocating a salary floor. $100M to start increasing to $150M in 5 years.
MLB is also advocating a floor. But, the owners want a cap. They do not like the two NY teams and LAD spending north of $300MM when there are too many teams not wanting to spend $100MM much less $150MM.
So, Ruiz would make $100M?
Funny.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/45842533/sources-phillies-bryce-harper-tells-mlb-boss-get-clubhouse
Yeah, the short version here is:
The Harper – Manfred “conversation” happened Monday before the Phillies – White Sox game. Manfred’s been meeting with all the teams with the guise of furthering communication but it really looks like the main purpose is pitching a Salary Cap.
Bryce Harper wanted none of it and confronted Manfred during meeting. Reports say Harper told Manfred if he was there to talk about a salary cap, he could “get the fuck out” of the clubhouse. Harper had left it at that.
Interestingly, Harper was the last draft #1 signee before the slot money came into existence. His signing bonus as the first overall pick in the 2010 MLB draft was $6.25 million, with the total contract value reaching $9.9 million over 5 years. 15 years later Eli Willits, the No. 1 overall pick by the Nationals in the ’25 Draft, signed for $8.2 million. Harper claims a Salary Cap would further cut into bonuses for young draftees.
He is not wrong. And while I am on the players side, the counter argument would be that there would still be generational changing $$$ for Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto, Vlad Jr., etc., but MLB wants there to be more $$$ available for the middle and lower tiers. I do not agree with that, because a cap would not stop the NY teams or LAD for pushing the envelope for the upper tiers, and none of Pittsburgh, Miami, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Athletics will pay for those players. What would help the players is a salary floor, especially for the amount of revenue sharing those teams receive.
I totally agree Jeff about the need for a Minimum Cap to insure some competitive balance.
But it is a reality that it will come down to both a Maximum and Minimum Cap in place, and that will be a Dog-Fight.
Unfortunately a work stoppage is a given.
Bader would provide superior defense in CF, and his offense this season has been good– a.772 OPS with 12 HRs. He’d likely bat 8th, ahead of Edman/Kim at the bottom of the lineup.
While Conforto has started to hit, an OF with Bader flanked by Teo and Pages would be better.
That would appear to be what the Dodgers are focused on. I believe they would also like to get one of the two Twins relievers in the deal as well, as it remains to be seen if the ailing Dodgers relievers will all be back at full strength for the September/October push.
It appears obvious to me the Dodger minor league system is there to develop players to be used in trade deals. The Dodger 26 man is stacked. It has been for a decade and it will remain so in the future with payrolls at $400 million. There will be little room for the top prospects to break in with the Dodgers. One at a time each season. The rest might as well be traded for those needed pennant winning pieces.
This is basically the entire Dodgers philosophy well beyond the farm system.
Chase elite/superstars, get value for the rest of the roster
Totally agree. And it’s not fair to those prospects. I think we can offer enough AAA prospects and one of our young OF’ers and get a closer.
Which AAA prospects? Freeland is really the only position player prospect, and many if not most do not think he is not good enough to bring back an elite closer. Bobby Miller? Landon Knack? Austin Gauthier? Justin Dean?
Here is the AAA roster. Which of these players will entice a team with an elite closer to trade for?
Would you trade Freeland and one of Hope/De Paula for rental Ryan Helsley?
What about DePaula for Helsley + Donovan?
Still not sure if DePaula will be the next Juan Soto or next Cartaya…
I would do that, but I doubt St. Louis would.
I can’t argue with those fact based observations.
I hope Freeland takes over 3rd base and Edman moves to second. Kim can replace Ruiz’ role on the bench. I would swap Conforto’s and Outman’s roles to improve defense and make Roberts take a Tums every time Outman hits.
A strong outfield defense would be Kwan LF, Outman CF, Pages RF. I guess I just tried to include Hernandez in the trade for Kwan.
That would be a strong D, but I don’t think Teo will be sitting on the bench.
Are the Indians sellers? They are 4 back in the Wild Card.
I don’t think Outman has a future with the Dodgers. I like the guy but it would appear AAA is his ceiling. At least on this team. Maybe in another organization, but not here.
Would want much wampum for their land now. Indians are now the Guardians of Cleveland’s bridge.
Can’t believe I wrote that. I was thinking Cleveland and wrote Indians.
I noticed nobody answered the question.
Don’t fret it, I have done the same thing in my mind more times than I can count. I still call the Commanders, Redskins.
Treinen looked shaky.
Hopefully just getting acclimated back to big league hitting.
Thanx to dreyer who put out the fire. Good job, Kid!
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!
Hadn’t faced MLB hitters in 3 months. I give him a pass on that one.
The Giants have signed Diego Cartaya to a minor league contract.
Man, it’s been a tough year for Edman with his injuries but fits right in with rest of Dodgers crazy. Kim joins the party. Here we go again taking a ss to play 3rd base who joins a corner outfielder playing center a right fielder playing ss etc. Makes no sense to an old Irishmen but it’s a different game. Yet we lead the division so crazy works
Plus, they gained a game on the Pudnockers last night! I don’t like Freeland at third. His defense over there at AAA sucked.
Ardaya had a Q&A at The Athletic ($$$$)
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6521461/2025/07/28/dodgers-deadline-questions-live/
Among his answers:
Ferris and Quintana more likely (relatively) to move than Hope, Rushing, Freeland
Ryan Helsley and Pete Fairbanks are two bigger names that make sense to Ardaya.
Bader more heavily pursued by other teams and Donovan may cost too much
When it comes to the bat, my sense is the team is looking for at least a carrying trait that they can bank on. They hoped it would be Michael Conforto’s bat. Harrison Bader’s trait would be his glove. Donovan’s is competence at multiple positions to go with a quality bat. If the Dodgers could maybe pry away, say, Trent Grisham from the Yankees, I think that helps the roster in a few ways.
Of course, more names can easily enter the mix over the next couple days.
Cartaya’s fall was stark. Knowing when and which prospects to hold onto is a skill but there’s also so much of it that’s unpredictable.
I just don’t see a team that would want to trade for Conforto on that contract, and if you’re the Dodgers, why pay down the contract when you could concievably kick the can down the road another month or so and see if he really catches fire down the stretch?
Team continues to shut down any question re: moving Betts off of SS this season.
I keep telling everyone that Mookie is not moving in season, next spring? Who knows? See Helsey’s name a lot in rumors.
Bear, I haven’t seen a recent photo of you but you have to be Blue in the Face.😄
The most recent photo of me was in February when I was in the rehab center of the VA hospital in Long Beach, my musician friends, Max and Barbara were with me. They had a great band back in the 80’s. Sierra.
Nice shot! Everybody looks good.
SI seems to think that the Yankees would really want Dustin May.
It is hard to believe the 1,000 or so rumors out there. Pick one you like, and believe that is who the Dodgers are after. But May to NYY seems possible. NYY needs back of the rotation SP, and May could be an answer for them. May and who and who for Trent Grisham?
May and nobody for Grisham.
His 2025 stats are substantially higher than his lifetime stats and I wouldn’t be surprised if his next two months are a very severe reversion to the mean.
I don’t particularly want to see AF trade for him but if he did there is no way I’d give more than May straight up.
You only need him for two months. You wouldn’t do a May and Frasso for two months of Trent Grisham? How about May and Maddux Bruns? Grisham has a 123 OPS+ and a 1.9 fWAR. May has a 0.8 fWAR. He would not be my first choice or my second choice or my third choice. But he is an improvement over the current OF mix, and with Snell coming back, May has slipped to #6 or #7. Neither Grisham or May will be a LAD next year. Which one helps the Dodgers more this year?
I would trade May right now for anything useful.
I’m convinced that Grisham will not continue at his current pace for the rest of the year (or anywhere near it), so that’s why I really don’t want him.
But if you forced me, I’d definitely send Bruns instead of Frasso.
Grisham is an excellent center fielder, and he might hit as well as he is in this lineup. He would be an 8 or 9.
And Sports Illustrated seems to be very questionable content of late
I keep seeing Mason Miller’s name in rumors, but he would cost a ton, and I also have read that the A’s have no intention of trading him. AF does not like to pay premium price for relievers.
So Freeland has been called up? To fill whose spot? Does he go to third and Rojas to 2nd until Muncy’s back?
Conforto’s defense lapses are numerous lately. While never an all-star defender a dropped fly ball, miscommunication with Mookie on the flare and a misplay off the Monster were glaring. But he’s up to .195 with some way better at bats that maybe are saving his bacon. And the focus may become a closer.
I had forgotten that Conforto has played in 3 world series’. He was on the Redmond Wa Little League World Series team in 2004, with Oregon State in a College World Series and the 2015 World Series with the Mets.
Chase Burns certainly rushes it up there but damn there were 25 Strikeouts in the game. What happened to getting the ball in play? Rushing has a hole in his bat. I know it’s struggle playing limited duty but somehow, move a runner. His K-rate is 45%. I do like his catching skills.
Worse yet is Kim, who’s sinking like a stone, as Jeff’s stats indicate. (Edman’s been worse) Kim has made his share of mistakes on the bases but his K-rate of 30% and rising, is un-exceptable for his style of hitter. He needs to a be a contact-guy, put the ball in play and use his wheels. He needs to forget about our Hitting Coaches and buy some Ichiro Instructional Batting Videos.
I’d be fine with him doing that in OKC and Ward replacing him and see how he fares vs MLB pitching.
Kim finally bunted last night (not a good one) and it worked as it forced an error.
I know the Dodgers really like slug and I’m fine with that for the power-bats. But the Edmans and Kims are not that and they can interject the lineup with some contact guys to set the table or manufacture some small-ball runs. We don’t do that well.
I thought Doc stayed with Treinen for one too many hitters. I fully expected him to go to Dreyer to face Friedl but Doc didn’t for some reason. Damn, warm up the LHP and get him in the game to face the LHB. Let Treinen knock the rush off after, in a less critical situation that he created.
The Red’s announcers were accurately critical of Andy Fletcher the HPU. He was inconsistent and Barry Larkin said he didn’t know what a strike was with that guy. They also claimed that Fletcher had more misses against the Reds. There thoughts were confirmed by the Umpire Scorecard which had a .33 runs in the Dodgers favor. His overall accuracy was 84% with 17 calls favoring the Dodgers and 7 for the Reds. ABS can’t come fast enough.
Kim to the IL with bursitis in his shoulder. I listened to the Reds feed instead of the Dodgers simply because I cannot stand Jessica.
Exactly what I’m doing too. And getting the opponents take on the Dodgers is an education; sometimes good and sometimes not, but a different take.
Really liked their color analyst, you might remember him as a player, Barry Larkin.
Well, usually it goes the other way. ABS can’t get here soon enough.
I saw this little bit on Doc and the LAD search for a high leverage arm.
Yes, AF/BG has traded for high leverage relievers before. Michael Kopech and Joe Kelly are probably the last two. Josh Fields, Tony Watson, and Tony Cingrani before them. But they have always found the cost too high for a lockdown closer at the deadline. They even traded for Aroldis Chapman and backed out due to domestic violence concerns (pre-season trade not deadline trade). I do not think they are going to change their mind no matter how good he is pitching this year.
Emmanuel Clase and Felix Bautista are out. Pittsburgh seems to be getting more (better?) inquiries for David Bednar (not a rental). That leaves Ryan Helsley and Pete Fairbanks. I can see AF/BG trying for either, but it will not be an overpay. They would be more amenable to the mix I have been bringing up. I do not think they include Kyle Finnegan in that tier.
I still think the Dodgers are going with Tanner Scott as the closer when he returns.
Vesia may steal the LH closer role, considering how he just shut down the Reds.
How would you like to have this kid in the LAD system. With him and Jacob Wilson, and Shea Langliers, and Brent Rooker, they do have the nucleus for a good team. They have a human highlight CF in Denzel Clarke. Lawrence Butler is tied up at a very team friendly deal thru 2032, and hopefully he will return to his 2024 level. Unfortunately for A’s fans, John Fisher is still the owner.
Plus, they are playing in a minor league park in front of maybe 10,000 on their best nights and will be doing that for two more years. Dodgers get a taste of that this weekend playing the Rays in a spring training field. Rich Hill was DFAd by the Royals.
If Kurtz was a Dodger he would likely be blocked and wasting his talents in AAA.
No doubt.
Sad but true.
He’d be battling Ryan Ward for the AAA home run crown.
Have him?!??
Id be thrilled if the team even had a chance to get him!
He is so much fun to watch
A somewhat entertaining effort by the Dodgers last night. Although, they struck out 13 times against hard throwing Reds’ pitcher Burns, they were able to cash in with four walks and some timely hitting. Yamamoto looked outstanding going a strong seven innings. And he finally got some run support. Even with minimal run support from his teammates he should 12-13 wins. Vesia and Dryer did their job out of the BP. Treinen had a rough return to the mound, but he should improve with another outing or two.
Andy Fletcher was really a problem last night. No consistency at all. I still don’t understand how and why these veteran umps are so bad behind the plate after so many years. You would think MLB would refine their skills right from the beginning of their careers. And, with no significant improvement in the following three years then they should be fired. Or, just use ABS ASAP.
It was good to see the Dodgers win without having to hit a HR. Contact can cause trouble for the defense. Last night Kim had a SAC bunt that the pitcher threw 20 feet over the first baseman’s head. It set up a scoring opportunity that sadly the Dodgers couldn’t take advantage of. My point is when a ball is put into play you never know what can happen. It’s better than a strikeout every time. Well, unless the catcher has a passed ball on strike three and the batter is safe at 1B like what happened to Conforto before the Kim bunt.
Carry on
I would love to see MLB and the Umpires union conduct a seminar on where the strike zone actually is. Some of these guys act like they have no clue. I saw a video of a pitch that was right in the middle of the plate and was called a ball. Umpire did not even react to the pitch. I would take the old guys who are dead over these clowns, they actually had a clue.
Seranthony Dominguez traded to the Blue Jays by the Orioles. Yanks have had discussions with at least one team on Bellinger and Goldschmidt.
Baltimore trades RHRP Seranthony Dominguez to Toronto for RHP Juaron Watts-Brown (#14 Prospect – BA, #8 with Toronto, 45 FV).
That would equate to someone in the following range: Hyun-Seok Jang, Eriq Swan, Christian Zazueta, Patrick Copen, Sean Paul Linan, Payton Martin.
Seems the Angels are open to trading the players they have on expiring contracts.
So if the dodgers want to upgrade the centerfield position these four players would be the only ones to go after at the trade deadline. Harrison Bader Trent Grisham Jared Suran and Bryan Reynolds well that’s easy go after the two Pirates Bryan Reynolds and David Bedard and there all done improves the team okay that’s easy all this guessing and after looking at the teams to tradr with it would work tradr pirates may and outman and some minor league and yiu have your outfield set for the next 2 years and a legit closer who you can resign in the winter time.
Do you ever do research, or do you just pull names out of a hat? Harrison Bader has been mentioned quite a few times. So okay on him.
I brought up Trent Grisham today because NYY seems to like Dustin May. But there are zero reports out of NYY that Grisham is available. Maybe less now that Judge is hurt.
I assume you are talking about Jarren Duran. Duran is a LF who can play CF. Dodgers have that in Andy Pages. Boston has now said that Duran is not available at the deadline. Do you plan on forcing Boston to trade Duran?
Bryan Reynolds has not played full time CF since 2022. He last played CF even minimally (13 starts) in 2023. He is barely better than Conforto. Reynolds and Conforto have identical OPS+ numbers of 84. Conforto has a bWAR of -0.4 and Reynolds has a bWAR of -0.7. The big difference is that Reynolds (30 years old) is due $75MM over the next 5 years, plus $20MM club option with a $2MM buyout. So you think that the Dodgers should trade for Reynolds and assume a guaranteed $77MM? A player no better than Conforto.
Ben Cherington is looking to sell high on David Bednar. Pittsburgh reports that His asking price includes, at minimum, a top-five prospect. So which of Dalton Rushing, Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, Alex Freeland, or Eduardo Quintero, plus, are you trading for 1 year 2 months of Bednar. You cannot just want a player. You have to trade for them.
So you think that Pittsburgh wants May and Outman for an elite closer? What makes you think that May, a rental, is wanted by the 5th worst team in the MLB? Pittsburgh may take Outman but not for Bednar. It would be for a lottery pick, or more likely for that proverbial PTBNL and/or cash.
So Bradley, who are you giving up for Reynolds and Bedard? And you realize Reynolds is barely outhitting Conforto
Tell him Bear
There are no words.
OK, tell him Jeff.
Why does anyone answer this nonsense. It makes you look as silly as him
Fine they won’t do anything not get a closer you guys are boring why even listen to these rumors if there not true that’s where I get them then when they happen you guys all oh see I told you they should have gotten these guys. You litterrally said theres like 4 guys the dodgers could afgoed or like give a one years cibtract to. I bring them up and you guys shoot them down. Ugghh
My goodness, Shohei has struck out 39 times so far this month. For as great a hitter that he is, he can look just clueless up there at times.He’s swinging at breaking balls 2 feet off the plate.
Probably the best power hitter in baseball right now but he seems to be a guess hitter the way he swings wildly on pitches so far out of the strike zone.
He can seem so locked in and then you see a swing that makes you wonder how he hits the ball at all.
40 times. Just ugly ugly swings! Wow!
We’re pretty good at striking out.
Rojas is our best hitter right now 🙂
Wrong on part 2, but…
As per S. Chen
Add Nick Lodolo (11 K’s through 5 IP) to the list of opposing pitchers to strike out 10+ Dodgers in a game this season. It’s happened three times in the past four games.
See what happens when you make contact? 15 outs and 11 of them K’s for LAD.
So frustrating. When do they cut RVS loose?
I really do like this board and the comment section, but THIS season Dodgers are arguably the top team in baseball and inarguably a top 5 team in baseball.
Also THIS season two different commenters have called for replacing the pitching and the hitting coach respectively.
WTF
I have been calling for the dismissal of RVS for several years. He is not a good coach. You may think he is and obviously AF/BG like him, but that does not mean I have to like his approach. Or do I have to bow down to the altar of AF/BG? That is not who I am. That does not make me right nor does it make me wrong. Just different.
But I have never called for the dismissal of Mark Prior. I have called for a change in organizational approach. You cannot lead the League in walks in 3 of the 4 affiliates and the ACL, and #6 in MLB and believe that is good. Or do you think leading all MiLB in walks is something to emulate every year?
What I think is that I know very little about pitching and pitching development.
I know, for a fact, that baseball executives rate the Dodgers as a top 3 team for developing pitchers.
Based on that, I’d say focusing on walks allowed while a good data point may not represent very much. That said, as stated above I like the ability to freely voice opinions on this blog, I’m just flummoxed by some of them (like this one.)
https://www.mlb.com/milb/news/front-office-executives-poll-for-farm-systems-2025?t=mlb-pipeline-coverage
BTW: They’re also #3 at hitting development
And #1 in developing sleepers
I cannot continue to discuss this with someone who kisses the ring of AF. It is irrelevant what baseball executives say when the Dodgers do not believe it. The Dodgers are doing what they are doing with a $400MM payroll and players they did not develop. Outside of Smith and Pages, which home grown position player are they playing?
Don’t bother responding. The Dodgers cannot be improved. If they could, AF would have already done it.
Really, then why can’t the Dodgers draft a position player and keep him on the roster? I do not want to hear this crap that it is because of where they draft. And as far as pitching goes, why did they trade for Glasnow, sign Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, and Sasaki. Kershaw was pre AF. May and Sheehan has dropped to #6 and #7. Why sign Scott, Yates, Treinen, Banda, Phillips, Alexis Diaz. Why did they trade for Vesia? Bobby Miller and Landon Knack have fallen off the map. Casparius and Dreyer are the lone home grown relievers. If the development is so great, then why is Jack Little in AAA and Diaz on the MLB roster.
Jeff,
Which team is responsible for the most players in MLB?
That’s developing players. Not sure why they need to be on the developing team when they make the majors.
Actually Houston.
I think I’ve read it’s the Dodgers, but could be wrong. Are the Dodgers #2?
Ah, I’m citing something from 2024. Let me see if I can find 2025.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/which-mlb-teams-drafted-the-most-big-leaguers-in-2024/#:~:text=Counting%20players%20who%20are%20active%20on%20MLB,of%20the%20draft%20and%20which%20ones%20aren't.
If it’s too much for you and your head is going to explode go away
i’ve come to grips with the fact that almost half the people in the world have below average intelligence
You belong with Mark who says: “I have come to understand that half of the fans are dumber than hell… and the other 50% are worse than that… they are morons.” Therefore the only true baseball fans are you and Timmons? Okay. Why do you bother with us stupid fans?
Oh Jeff. And I thought only Bear didn’t get subtlety or humor
And apparently you don’t get it either. And apparently you do not care when he disparages my site and the “moron” commenters here. I take it personal.
Jeff. Its a joke. Half the people are below average intelligence. Half are above Well duh. Well half the people in the world are below average intelligence. Half the people are below average height, half the people have below average foot size. Aren’t you getting it? Just statement of obvious
Mean vs Median
what about mode?!?!?
Probably because our education system has gone in the toilet
public education system
I stand corrected. But I got a decent education. Schools were better back then
Being a former teacher and following public education very closely in my previous job, I feel that public education takes a bum rap. When I was growing up we went to the library and such to get out of the house. Our parents (mine and a lot of my friends) made us accountable for our grades. Now a lot of homes are single parent or both parents working. When they get home they are not inclined to working with their kid in geometry or whatever. I liken it too, I was a basketball coach for many years. If my players only played when we practiced they would not make the team. When kids leave the classroom very few are taking books home with them and at least what I see, kids aren’t reading books, or news in their spare time. I could go on forever but to quote my late mother when someone would say the could go on “please don’t.” So please think about it before we bash public education.
We are far off-shore from baseball.
I agree, and it’s been quantified, that parents have an outsized role in outcomes from the educational system.
But the teachers union and the bureaucracy of public school systems (why the fuck do we still have school boards?!??!) is outdated and underperforming.
We were a different country back then. But I see college students who have no clue what the capital of the state they live in is. Many of the kids I have seen cannot do simple math. I went to the library to study not because I wanted to get out of the house, but because it was quiet, and there were better reference materials there. I know you are from Kansas, and maybe that is the way it is there. But I lived in California, and the public education system there is nowhere near as good as when I went to school. My nephew is a US History teacher in the Compton School district. He has to work really hard to get the kids interested in the subject.
I see what you did there. Correct (by definition) except in Lake Wobegon 😉
Probably not any time soon since they won a WS with RVS as the hitting coach last year.
Excellent job by the pen!!!
Now can we please see the comeback Dodgers do their thing!
Hug watch!
Per Passan:
Jhoan Duran has not been traded. He was just hugging his bullpen catcher because that’s what friends do sometimes.
Why would any pitcher throw Ohtani a strike? He swings at so much crap that you have a very high chance of getting him to chase than challenge him and hope to beat him.
Ohtani saw four pitches in this most recent at bat and none of them in the strike zone. I say this slightly tongue in cheek but, in July, he has turned in to Dave Kingman.
Or Rob Deer.
Going to vent a little. I understand all the Ks against two flame throwing kids they have not seen before. What irks the hell out of me is Shohei swinging at pitches he couldn’t hit if he were standing on the plate. He wasted four plate appearances today with maybe the worst at bats I have ever seen him take. He really needs to be more selective. He hurts the team when he has empty at bats, especially in close games. Max Muncy 0-2 with 1 K in his at bats so far.
I know you are venting, and is magnified by recency bias.
One bad stretch of games doesn’t negate him being the leading MVP candidate nor changes the reality that his rates have always looked more or less like this.
He isn’t even the MVP on this team. That title belongs to Will Smith. Recent bias? Horse pucky. Dude has struck out 129 times in 410 at bats. With his athletic ability, he should be way more selective. He is the only Dodger over 100. Freddie is the only other hitter with more than 90. In my humble opinion that is 129 wasted at bats. He has always struck out a ton, but this is a much higher level. He is going to pass what he did last year when he struck out 162 times. In 2021 he hit .257 and struck out 189 times in 537 at bats. Yeah, he hit 46 homers and drove in exactly 100 runs. But the guy is making 700 million dollars to be a superstar. Superstar’s hit well above .275.
“Superstar’s hit well above .275.” — Bottom line is that Ohtani CAN and SHOULD be a better hitter than he is right now.
I think it’s arguable that Will Smith is the team’s MVP, but surely not clearcut in the least.
Smith is awesome, and I like it even more since he’s homegrown.
I know you like Batting Average, but it’s not an important metric anymore. wRC+, OPS, WAR? Heavy weight to Ohtani.
BA with RISP, OBP, he is much more effective in the clutch than Ohtani. Might not be clearcut to you, but I would love to see the Big Show get some clutch singles instead of swinging for the fences. Smith has an excellent chance of being the first catcher to win a batting title since Buster Posey. Shohei is a unicorn, it is true. But with a little plate discipline he could be so much better, you enjoy watching him swing at pitches 8 inches off of the plate??? How about letting strike three right down the middle go without moving the bat off of his shoulder?? Have seen way too much of both. Guy could hit .300 and be much more productive if he was more selective. You are entitled to your opinion, but in this case I vehemently disagree.
You are confusing what I like to watch with who is a better player.
It’s cool to have diverging opinions. I appreciate Smith doing what he’s doing as a catcher, I love that he’s home grown.
Neither of those, however, mean I think batting average is important.
But back to team MVP. I’m not even sure I disagree with you because catching is such an anomaly.
I just don’t think it’s early as clearcut as you seem to.
True. But as great as he is as a power hitter and a pitcher (and he is an absolute all-timer for his ability to do both), there is room for improvement in his chase rate and zone discipline. I think the Dodgers would be remiss if they did not work with him in being more selective. It would help him become a better hitter and the Dodgers become a better team if he forced pitchers into the zone.
Arenado trade rumors flying, but not about a trade to LA. Speculation is Houston.
Now that was clutch by Will Smith. Two out, tie game, top of the ninth and he gets a double. That did not happen in Boston. Way to go Mr. Smith
Will the Thrill!
I have loved Will Smith since the first time I saw him play. His first year in a game in May at Dodger Stadium against the Phillies, he hit a walk off homer. He has just gotten better.
Ok wow, that was a total team effort, gutty win! Excellent job by the guys!
Congratulations are in order for Maddux Bruns after 71career starts he has earned his first win as a professional
I saw that. Quick, trade him.
Doc pressed all the right buttons in that game.
He takes out Glasnow before the game spirals out of control.
The whole bullpen is lights out.
Conforto comes in for Ruiz and gets two super-difficult-important walks and makes a nice play in the left-center gap.
Outman pinch runs at a key moment.
Team effort for sure!! Nicely done in spite of the ridiculous number of K’s.
Muncy 0-3 with 2 Ks in his first rehab game.
Rangers in preliminary talks with the Rays for Pete Fairbanks.
What a nice win…
Conforto gets a key walk, and Roberts puts Outman in to run for him.
I was thinking, “steal!”
But then Smith doubles and Outman races all the way around.
And the Vesia shuts down the Red for the win.
All pretty good considering that Glasnow wasn’t sharp.
Much needed win, now 3-2 on this road trip. Trade deadline on Thursday. Should be interesting.
Nice come from behind win. Outstanding job by the bullpen.
Yes, no one is perfect, but still, the Dodgers EXPECT Glasnow to perform like an ace pitcher in the playoffs, unlike what he did against the Reds yesterday. And I’m still not sold on him to match those expectations.
So his 1 ER in 18 innings is the anomaly and not the one+ inning yesterday? Yamamoto didn’t get out of the first inning on July 7, but he is good to go?
I get it, you do not like Glasnow. You are not alone.
What you EXPECT in the playoffs is not always what you get. Sometime you get this
Per Feinsand:
The market for Eugenio Suárez is beginning to shape up with less than 30 hours until the Trade Deadline. Per sources, the Mariners, Cubs, Tigers and Phillies are considered the primary teams in the race for the All-Star third baseman.
the Mets have been one of the more aggressive teams in their pursuit of Robert, with one source taking it to another level by calling New York “the frontrunner.” The Padres and Phillies are among the other teams said to have interest in Robert.
Per Rosenthal:
Padres’ Dylan Cease a prime trade target for injury-depleted Astros.
Per Morosi:
News: The Giants are telling teams they’ll listen on their relievers
Per Nightengale (!!!!!!!)
Injury-wracked 1st place Astros have inquired about their former star Carlos Correa. Astros have been preferring a lefty hitting infielder but they do love Correa (so do the Twins, but they are also in sell mode now)