NFL
By: George Lopez
The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2024 MLB trading deadline with specific needs to help improve the team. The Dodgers front office looked to add depth to the roster with field position players and the pitching staff. As the trading deadline has ended, the question will be whether the Dodgers do enough with the moves they made.
They used the trading deadline to add depth to the roster by acquiring Tommy Edman as part of a 3 team trade with the Cardinals and White Sox. Edman has been out all season recovering from wrist surgery and is expected to join the Dodgers within the next couple of weeks after a few more rehab appearances. For the second straight year, they traded for Ahmed Rosario at the deadline. With Mookie Betts, Chris Taylor, and Miguel Rojas out with injuries, trading for Edman and Rojas will allow manager Dave Roberts some flexibility in finding the right combination of players to put on the field.
In the past two offseasons, the Dodgers have pursued outfielder Kevin Kiermair in free agency with no success. The Dodgers were finally able to land him, acquiring him in a trade with the Blue Jays at the deadline. Though Kiermair has not hit all season, the former Gold Glove winner has defense in center field that will give the Dodgers much-needed outfield depth.
The squad was in need of starting pitching as well as relief pitching to help a bullpen that has been overworked and struggling lately. Part of the trade that brought Edman to the team, the Dodgers added Michael Kopech. The addition of Kopech will give an additional arm in the later innings. Brusdar Graterol, who has been out all season with a shoulder injury, has been out on rehab assignments and is close to joining the bullpen. Getting Graterol back at this point of the season, is similar to the Dodgers trading for him.
The Dodgers found themselves with the need to add a front of the rotation starting pitcher and were able to trade for Jack Flaherty. At this trading deadline, Flaherty was one of the most coveted starting pitchers. After struggling last season with Baltimore, Flaherty has rebounded this season, posting a 7-5 record with a 2.95 E.R.A. with the Detroit Tigers. Flaherty is expected to be at the top of the rotation to give a 1-2 punch with Tyler Glasnow. A trade was not made for another trade for a starting pitcher. Walker Buehler, recovering for a hip injury is close to returning to the rotation. Clayton Kershaw recently returned to the Dodgers rotation, though the number of pitches he’ll throw per game is still limited. Bobby Miller struggled on his return from the IL and was sent back to the minors to work on his command and mechanics. Andrew Friedman, President of Baseball Operations, feels with Buehler and Miller close to returning and with the hope Yamamoto returns for the end of season push, therer was not a need to add an additional starting pitcher outside of Flaherty at the trading deadline.
With Friedman at the helm, the team have usually been very active at the trading deadline, making blockbuster deals such as the trades from Max Scherzer, Trea Turner and Yu Darvish. This trading deadline, the Dodgers added depth to the infield and outfield as well as bringing in a front of the rotation starting pitcher and an additional arm to the bullpen. Were the moves the Dodgers made enough to get them over the hump and back to the World Series this year? Only time will tell.
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