The Los Angeles Dodgers are always one of the more intriguing teams to follow around the trade deadline. They’re seemingly always in the middle of big trade discussions.
This season, the Dodgers’ roster is as loaded with talent as ever, but their pitching staff has been destroyed by injuries. Because of that, it would make sense to see Los Angeles target pitchers, both starters and relievers, ahead of the upcoming trade deadline.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan recently listed Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Durán as the best trade fit for the Dodgers this season.
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“The Dodgers enter every deadline season seeking a major move, and the 6-foot-5, 230-pound Durán qualifies. With a fastball that averages over 100 mph, a splinker that sits at 98 and a curveball to keep hitters off balance, Durán is pitching as well as ever,” Passan wrote. “He hasn’t given up a home run this season, and his 1.52 ERA is third in MLB for pitchers with at least 40 innings.
“The asking price will be hefty. Durán comes with two more years of team control beyond this season. The Dodgers don’t have time to waste on taking advantage of Shohei Ohtani’s prime, though, and assembling a team with standouts in all facets is a reasonable goal. For a group threatening to approach a major league record for pitchers used in a season — the Dodgers are at 35, the record is 42 from Seattle in 2019 — adding another wouldn’t in and of itself be a needle-mover.”
While the Dodgers don’t necessarily need to upgrade their bullpen with blockbuster deals, it wouldn’t hurt to add another top closer to the backend of games.
The Dodgers have holes around the roster to fill, too, but landing a deal for Durán, while the righty is in the middle of a career year, would be too good to pass up on.
Los Angeles could package Bobby Miller or James Outman with some prospects to land the righty. To make a deal more enticing, the Twins closer has multiple years of team control left on his affordable contract.
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