It's not an outfielder a shortstop the Dodgers should be prioritizing at this year's trade deadline according to David Schoenfield at ESPN. Instead, Los Angeles should be setting its sites on starting pitcher Garrett Crochet. That's the deal LA makes in Schoenfield's list of moves every team should make at the deadline.
The Dodgers' need on the mound is dependent some on their injury situation. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw are all on the IL with less than a month to go until the final day trades can be executed. Kershaw and Buehler's effectiveness are huge question marks still and it remains to be seen how long Yamamoto's rotator cuff strain will keep him out.
Having a player like Crochet to fall back on to bolster their rotation depth would be a pretty significant boost to the Dodgers' World Series chances, so it makes sense that they'd prioritize that over adding a shortstop or outfielder. Schoenfield's piece lays out a potentially tough scenario for LA though since there will likely be a sizable bidding war for Crochet's services.
The Dodgers are listed as a team that should trade for the upstart righthander, along with the Orioles, Padres and Brewers. Baltimore has the best farm system and could build the best package, but LA would be one of the frontrunners to land the White Sox starter. Via ESPN:
They don't have a prospect as highly rated as Holliday, Mayo or Basallo, but -- as always -- they have a ton of depth, with major-league-ready pitching help or high-upside position players in the low minors, such as outfielder Josue De Paula and shortstop Joendry Vargas.
Whether it's a starter, bullpen help, an infielder or an outfielder, all signs point to the Dodgers staying active at this year's deadline. They have a list of needs and it's becoming clear they need at least one minor adjustment to solidify their chances of making a deep playoff run. If they can land Crochet it would not only help them close out the National League West, but it would bolster their rotation and make them an extremely tough out come October.
