Dodgers still trying for Felipe Vazquez or Edwin Diaz

The trade deadline is now less than 48 hours away.  Andrew Friedman is still trying to get the Dodgers an elite reliever before Wednesday’s deadline.

After two sloppy and embarrassing losses, the Dodgers will try to regroup today at Coors Field.  While the club is going with a “bullpen game” today, the club will hopefully add an elite reliever before the buzzer sounds on the trade deadline at 1 PM PST on Wednesday.  Andrew Friedman remains in hot pursuit of bullpen help.

After reports surfaced over the weekend that the Pirates were talking extensively with the Dodgers about Felipe Vazquez, Buster Olney reported yesterday that talks have slowed down after Pittsburgh asked for Gavin Lux.  Lux is now the Dodgers’ top prospect and with no other long term options at second base, LA is refusing to include him in a deal as they should.

Keibert Ruiz would still be a nice headliner in a deal for the Pirates but they want two of the Dodgers’ top four prospects with their preference being Lux and Ruiz.  That is too steep of a price to pay, even for a closer who is under control through the 2023 season.  Last July the Padres acquired the Indians’ top prospect for Brad Hand and Adam Cimber.

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It remains to be seen if the Pirates will become more realistic about their prospect packages but if they are only willing to deal Vazquez for a package including Gavin Lux, then don’t expect Vazquez to become a Dodger before the deadline.  The Dodgers could look elsewhere for an elite reliever like the Mets who are shopping Edwin Diaz.

Yesterday there was a report that the Dodgers are still in on Mets’ closer Edwin Diaz.  Diaz is not having his best season but he still possesses above-average stuff and is averaging 97.2 MPH on his fastball this season.  The Mets’ shaky infield defense has also contributed to his down season as well as a few disastrous outings that blew Diaz’s ERA up.

While Diaz is under control via arbitration for three more seasons, the Dodgers would be buying low and would pay a much cheaper price than they would for Felipe Vazquez.  While Vazquez is the better reliever at the moment, Rick Honeycutt should be able to work some of his magic on Edwin Diaz and turn him back into one of the best relievers in baseball.

If the Dodgers are going to make a big move they will need to make it happen soon as we get closer to the day of the trade deadline.  They’ve had scouts watching Felipe Vazquez and Shane Greene in recent days so they have cast a wide net as they search for relief help.  Hopefully, Andrew Friedman is able to acquire Edwin Diaz or Felipe Vazquez without giving up more than one top-four prospect.