Dodgers: 3 NL West players LAD should target at MLB trade deadline

2. David Peralta

Last year’s Dodgers’ offense was pure fire, but this year’s team – with Max Muncy, Will Smith, and Mookie Betts, to name a few – can still continue the hot streak. The Dodgers’ offensive juggernaut is averaging 5.08 runs per game and are tied for third in pitches per plate appearance at 3.97. One way they’ve been able to wear opposing pitchers down is by drawing walks: LA has eight players with double-digit BB percentages (nine if you include Cody Bellinger). They lead MLB in BB percentage (11.2), which would be the third-highest this century.

That kind of walk rate should set them up for a successful run to the World Series, but they could use some help if and when they go through an occasional dry spell. Cue David Peralta.

The 33-year-old outfielder has had somewhat of a monotonous season at Arizona, owning a .260 batter average and a .730 OPS that shows he’s not too hot at the plate. His last two seasons with the Diamondbacks have seen him post single-digit home runs, but prior to that, he’s proven he can get that up to double digits and was a solid hit-producer for three seasons from 2017 to 2019.

While he won’t repeat the glorious numbers of his 2018 Silver Slugger campaign in which he hit 30 homers with 87 RBI (he’s never hit 20 or more home runs in a season outside of that year), he’s a solid offensive player who hits for a solid average and has a career .342 on-base percentage. The best adjective to describe Peralta is, indeed, solid. A change of scenery in LA, a nudge here and there, could make Peralta a dependable and (last time I’ll say it) solid option for the Dodgers off the bench and in the outfield rotation.