MLB Trade Deadline: Dodgers not signaling any big moves. History says one could still happen
It all sounds so familiar.The Dodgers signaling that they don’t have any big needs.That they’re content settling for modest, marginal moves.
That a bigger splash wouldn’t be worth the long-term risk.That a blockbuster acquisition isn’t in their future.Nine months ago, club officials gave those same indications at the start of the offseason.Then, they turned around and signed two of the biggest names on the free-agent market.Right now, a similar script could be unfolding ahead of the Aug.
3 trade deadline.The Dodgers are operating as if no big deal is coming.But many corners of the industry are skeptical that will actually be the case.Here’s what is known entering the final week before the deadline: –– The Dodgers are already baseball’s most talented team, owning an MLB-best 67-39 record that has all but assured them of another National League West division title.–– They are confident their roster will be healthy come the stretch run of the season, with Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández set to come off the injured list this week, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow progressing in their own injury rehabs, and Will Smith and Shohei Ohtani expected to make recoveries from lingering neck and knee issues, respectively, as well.–– Even if they do nothing of note before next Monday’s deadline, they will be consensus favorites to win a third-straight World Series in October, returning practically every key member from their title defense last season.–– Their front office has long been loath to paying inflated deadline prices, especially in years when their roster has no glaring holes.That’s why, in recent weeks, sources with knowledge of the team’s plans have downplayed the chances of the club making a major trade; be it for Tarik Skubal, a bigger-name reinforcement at catcher, or some other surprise target that could materialize in the coming ays.Instead, their preference would be to unload some excess pieces of the roster –– perhaps Eric ...