Editorials

Dodgers: 5 Position Players Los Angeles Should Consider Trading For

The Dodgers are always going to look to improve their team, regardless of their record. That will certainly be the case as we approach Summer and the trade deadline this year. In looking at the roster, there are a few holes that they can fill. Most of those holes come in the bullpen right now, but let’s talk about the bench.

It’s not quite as deep as we thought it would be, and they could make a few different moves that would drastically improve it. So let’s take a look at some guys around the league on one-year deals that they could jump for. 



Brandon Drury

The Reds are bad. Like, historically bad. So selling off guys on one-year deals is going to be a thing this Summer for them. Drury is playing on a $900k deal this year in his final arb year, and he’s rewarding them almost every time he’s out on the field. He has already posted a .912 OPS so far in 26 games, and he’s mashing left-handed pitching. 

He can play second and third base as well as the outfield, and we all know how much the Dodgers love the versatility. But one look at his Baseball Savant page will tell you all of the reasons that he would be a great fit for this roster. He’s tearing the cover off of the baseball this year.

Tommy Pham

Not as flashy as Drury, but Pham is another guy the Reds are almost certainly going to move. He’s making $6 million this year though, which could work against him a little bit. But Pham is hitting the ball very hard and taking his walks, two things that the Dodgers love. He’s in the top 4 percent of the league in average exit velocity at 93.2 mph.

If Los Angeles wanted to go out and get him, he could be a right-handed bat off of the bench to play the outfield positions. That would also free up Chris Taylor to get some time back in the infield when needed. 

Chad Pinder

If the A’s are going to keep selling off their team, it would be a good time for the Dodgers to jump in. There are arms that they would love to package, but getting the bat of Pinder off of the bench could be highly beneficial. Oddly enough, he has hit righties much better than left-handed pitching in 2022. 

But his ability to play the outfield as well as average defense at third would play up. Pinder is also among the top 5 percent of the league in hard-hit percentage, maybe suggesting that he’s running into a little bit of bad luck. But he does strikeout often, stinging the ball whenever he does make contact. 

Charlie Culberson

Dodgers fans loved Culberson while he was in Los Angeles, and a return could be fun. Culberson is hitting decent enough with Texas, putting up a .250 batting average even if the power isn’t there. But a change back to a familiar place could be good for him, and getting a right-handed bat that can also play third base would be good for Los Angeles. 

Culberson is on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million this year, and the Dodgers need some help at the corner. On games when Justin Turner has to take the day off of his feet, Max Muncy has often been the guy over there. And no disrespect to Max, but that’s not quite his position. 

Adam Frazier

This one would be a bit of a stretch. The Mariners appear to be trying to compete this year and would have to fall out of contention to move Frazier, who is in his final year of arbitration. But at 14-18 and in a tough division, it’s not out of the question.

Frazier provides incredible bat-to-ball skills, something the Dodgers would love to have. The fact that he can play second base and the outfield is just an added benefit. He’s slashing .270/.346/.377 to start the season, and although he doesn’t provide any pop, he really is the base hit guy. 

Dodgers Prospect Michael Busch is Tearing Up Minor League Pitching

 

2 Comments

  1. How about trade Roberts for a bag of balls. It’s not going to matter who the dodgers get, he is and will burn up the pitching staff and his analytics confusion of in game decisions will choke.

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