Dodgers: Why the Dodgers Should Sit out the Trade Deadline

The Dodgers find themselves in an excellent position at this year’s trade deadline, with no clear need in the lineup. Sitting atop the National League West by 10.5 games, the front office should refrain from moving players.

As the month comes to an end, rumors have swirled all around the league with trade discussion. The Dodgers have come up quite often in those talks, linking them to big names on the market such as Yu Darvish, Brad Hand, and even Justin Verlander. And with a team of the Dodger’s caliber, you’d have to expect them to be linked to some of the biggest names in baseball, as they have for the past several years. And yes, a left handed pitcher who can dominate left handed hitting could be quite useful. And the acquisition of an elite starter could almost certainly carry the team to World Series contention.

But what if instead of spending millions and sacrificing future talent, the front office instead chose to remain silent on the market? It’s not entirely unlikely. While most fans call for the Dodgers to make at least one if not multiple major moves by the deadline, there are some who think there’s a high chance the President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and company won’t make a single move by the deadline. And the way it’s been going, why not roll the dice on the team they’ve already put together.

At 69-31, what immediately comes to mind is the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mentality. Why would you tinker with a team that is 38 games above .500 and dominating? And while a small addition to really change the team for the better, the numbers don’t lie. The 2016 Dodgers were a great team that came up just short. If you compare the offensive numbers this year, it almost paints a crystal clear picture of a World Series bound team:

Offensive Stat

2017 Rank

2016 Rank

Home runs

#7

#17

Runs Batted In

#5

#17

Batting Average

#13

#22

On Base %

#3

#18

SLG %

#3

#18

OPS

#3

#19

Strikeouts

#22

#18

Walks

#1

#11

Stolen Bases

#18

#27

Extra Base Hits

#3

#16

Ab/HR

#26

#15

Offensively, the Dodgers are a juggernaut in baseball. Their bats are coming to life almost on a daily basis, and their record certainly reflects that. But it’s not just their offensive getting the job done. The pitching staff is one of the best in baseball in 2017, thanks in part to elite performances from Alex Wood, Kenley Jansen and perennial ace Clayton Kershaw. Even though the 2016 Dodger pitching staff was amazing, this years’ is almost better:

2016 Rank

Earned Run Average

#1

#5

Saves

#4

#9

Quality Starts

#15

#29

Walks

#1

#10

Strikeouts

#2

#1

Batting Average Against

#1

#2

OBP

#1

#2

Hits

#1

#2

Home Runs

#1

#7

WHIP

#1

#2

While there have been some extreme disappointments for the front office this year, the team is just too good to tinker with. The biggest fear is that the addition of a new player or the loss of an incumbent will throw off the clubhouse chemistry. Come July 31st, look for the Dodger’s front office to make minimal, if not absolutely no moves at all.

Next: Silver Lining from Kershaw's Injury