Dodgers: Possible Southpaw Reliever Trade Candidates

Apr 24, 2017; San Francisco, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Adam Liberatore (36) is relieved by manager Dave Roberts (30) in the seventh inning against the San Francisco Giants at AT&T Park. The Giants won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports

During Saturday’s win over the Chicago Cubs, Ken Rosenthal appeared on his weekly full count video and said that members of the Dodger organization believe they need another left-handed reliever rather than another starting pitcher. This came after he suggested Sonny Gray as a perfect fit for the Dodgers.

The video can be seen here, got me thinking of possible left-handed relievers that could be on the market in July, if not sooner. It’s safe to say that the Dodgers should not acquire another starting pitcher because they can barely find room for the ones they currently have. Unless a bonafide ace is acquired, it doesn’t make sense to buy another middle tier starting pitcher.

The Dodgers currently have Luis Avilan and Adam Liberatore, but there is not much depth behind them. Grant Dayton is the only lefty reliever at Triple-A that has big league experience with the Dodgers. Avilan, Liberatore, and Dayton have all had injuries in the past year, so each of them has question marks regarding their health. Avilan is currently on the DL, and Grant Dayton just came off the DL and is working on finding his 2016 form in Oklahoma City. Liberatore had surgery last season but when healthy was a great asset in the bullpen. This accumulation of injuries and mixed results could lead to the acquisition of proven lefty neutralizer.

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