Dodgers: Five Bold Predictions for the Second Half

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: Los Angeles Dodgers players who will be attending the MLB All-Star game hold their jerseys before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. L-R: Kenley Jansen
LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 09: Los Angeles Dodgers players who will be attending the MLB All-Star game hold their jerseys before the game against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium on July 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. L-R: Kenley Jansen
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Dodgers
DETROIT, MI – JULY 1: J.D. Martinez

Prediction: Dodgers go big at the deadline

The trade deadline is coming in a couple of weeks, and the Dodgers will go big at the trade deadline by acquiring JD Martinez, Justin Wilson, and Alex Cobb in two separate deals. For Martinez and Wilson, they will trade Alex Verdugo, Edwin Rios, and Dennis Santana.

While another outfield bat isn’t a need, the prolific power bat of Martinez could make the Dodger lineup downright terrifying.  He has hit as much as 38 home runs in a season, which he did in 2015, and is a career .283 hitter, so he is not another all or nothing power hitter. Should the Dodgers make the World Series he could also provide a real DH.

Justin Wilson is a flame-throwing left-handed reliever who would provide more depth to the bullpen. Although Wilson is left-handed, he actually does better against right-handed hitters as he has held them to a .126 average compared to a .235 average against lefties. Wilson is currently the Tigers’ closer, so he will be able to handle high-pressure situations or even function as the Dodgers’ everyday seventh inning setup man to bridge the gap to Baez and Jansen.

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With free agency upcoming, the Rays trade Alex Cobb to the Dodgers for Hyun-Jin Ryu and Omar Estevez. Ryu gives the Rays a cost-effective replacement for this season and next. Cobb provides the Dodgers with yet another above-average arm and more depth since Wood and Hill have been injury prone in recent seasons.

With a rotation of Kershaw, Wood, McCarthy, Hill, and Cobb, the Dodgers would have arguably the best pitching rotation in the game. By unloading Ryu, the Dodgers would eliminate some of the surpluses they have with starting pitchers and clear the team of another injury prone starter in Ryu.

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