How will Dodgers’ injuries affect their thinking at trade deadline?
The Dodgers have several significant players on the IL, but their NL West lead means they don’t have to make moves to chase a playoff spot and can focus on additions who can have a big impact in October.
Before the season started, the Dodgers thought they had assembled a roster with as much talent – maybe more – as any team in MLB.
At midseason, they have assembled an injured list with as much talent – maybe more – than any team in MLB.
There are MVPs – Mookie Betts and Clayton Kershaw.
There are All-Stars – Max Muncy and Walker Buehler.
There is another front-line starter – Yoshinobu Yamamoto – and an assortment of relievers to choose from – Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, Brusdar Graterol and Michael Grove.
But a month out from the July 30 trade deadline, the injuries have not prompted the Dodgers to rush out shopping for replacements.
“I think right now it’s kind of evaluating how this group is playing. It’s still quite a talented group,” General Manager Brandon Gomes said. “Make sure we’re playing well and not having to step on anybody too much. But a lot of it will be wait-and-see on that front.
“We’re fortunate enough to be in a good spot in the division right now. So that will dictate a lot of it. So depending on how things progress – do we have to make moves that are more focused on the now or can we continue to evaluate and focus on bigger-picture moves?”
In other words, the Dodgers’ 7½-game lead in the National League West affords them a familiar luxury. They don’t have to make trades to chase a playoff spot. They can wait for Betts and Muncy and Yamamoto and the others to get healthy and return to action. But “bigger-picture moves” would add players who can have an impact in October.
“Not only,” Gomes said this past week. “But that is probably the focus at the moment.”
In some ways, the injury to Yamamoto and the setbacks experienced by Buehler and Kershaw are reminiscent of the problems that eroded the Dodgers’ starting pitching last year. But Gomes said the Dodgers feel they are in a much better position “for sure” to absorb those injuries than they were last year.
Gavin Stone has stepped up in a big way and Landon Knack has proven to be more than capable in a fill-in role. Left-hander Justin Wrobelski was recently promoted to Triple-A and struck out 11 in five innings in his debut. He could be in Los Angeles – at least in a limited role – before the end of the season.
The Dodgers don’t feel acquiring starting pitching to absorb innings in the second half is “an acute need” at this point.
“That is an area where we are looking at more big-picture moves than the right now,” Gomes said. “We feel our young guys are in a good place. They’re progressing well where we don’t feel that’s a need. But the deadline is still a long ways away. We know very, very well that things do change.”
A “big-picture move” would be adding Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, who would be a bargain with an $800,000 salary this year and free agency still an additional two seasons away. But Crochet is going to be a popular choice for multiple teams circling the floundering White Sox who will seek a big return if they are going to move the 25-year-old.
The White Sox also offer a potential solution for another Dodgers’ need – the outfield. The Dodgers’ outfielders rank among the least productive groups in MLB so far this season and an upgrade is certainly on their trade deadline radar.
Like most of the White Sox’s lineup, Luis Robert Jr. is having a poor season (a .206 average and .766 OPS) but there is a feeling the 26-year-old would improve in a better environment.
Meanwhile, the potential for a trade bringing in a new shortstop seems to be fading. Gomes said the plan now is for Betts to return to shortstop when his fractured hand heals and he is ready to return.
“We trust in Mook. He’s going to stay ready to play shortstop when he comes back,” Gomes said. “I think it’s wait and see how it plays out. But we have full trust in Mookie being our shortstop.
“He’s just never a guy I would bet against.”
But a dozen games into Betts’ absence, the Dodgers seem to be getting used to a world where Miguel Rojas’ exceptional defense is a given at shortstop.
“It’s a game-changer,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “Mookie was doing the best he could given the circumstance. But Miggy is an 80 defender (the top scouting grade). He grew up as a shortstop, the repetitions that he’s taken over the years, over his life – he’s a lockdown guy. It’s a game-changing position. For me, it’s fun to watch him take grounders. It’s a lot of fun.”
Roberts acknowledged the Dodgers will have to give consideration to moving Betts to second base – the position he came into spring training expected to play – when he returns. In order to stave off that move, Gavin Lux will have to make a massive jump in the .221 average and .571 OPS he has posted so far this year.
“I don’t think anyone can debate the level of shortstop play from Miguel Rojas,” Roberts said. “So I think some of that is contingent on Mookie’s timeline … time of return, when he comes back, where Miggy is at physically and how things are going. But to your question – would I consider it? Absolutely.”
Even that move would be made with an eye on October. After all the extra work Betts has put in to make the move to shortstop, would it be fair to him – or his team – to put him in position to lose a critical playoff game with a misplay at his third-best position?
“It’s certainly in the thought process. Absolutely,” Roberts said.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks (RHP Ryne Nelson, 5-6, 5.69 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 1-1, 6.75 ERA), Tuesday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM