Dodgers: 3 dream trade deadline targets for LAD

Despite possessing the second-best record in MLB, the Los Angeles Dodgers (56-35) will have to do some heavy lifting before the July 31 trade deadline.

The injury to Dustin May and the unlikely return of Trevor Bauer due to the sexual assault allegations he’s facing have upended the starting rotation.

And do we really know Clayton Kershaw is going to be OK for the rest of the way with his elbow inflammation?

And that’s just the starting rotation. The Dodgers also need a lot of bullpen help (what else is new?) and probably an outfielder.

Those are some back-breaking roster issues, but that hasn’t stopped LA from a blistering first half after weathering a disgusting 5-15 stretch earlier in the year. They’re only two games back of the San Francisco Giants, who sport the best record in the league. They’ve managed to stay ahead of the Padres for most of the way, too.

The bones and foundation are good. However, if the Dodgers want to repeat, it’s going to take multiple acquisitions over the next two weeks to do it. Not all of them have to be monumental or of the blockbuster variety, but we’d say at least one has to be. If LA is trying to replace star-like production, stabilize the back end of a bullpen or add another versatile outfielder to the mix, the front office will have to step out of its comfort zone.

Especially for these dream trade targets.

These trade deadline targets would be a dream come true for the Dodgers.

3. Trey Mancini

What a story Trey Mancini’s been. He’s battled back after being diagnosed with testicular cancer and missing all of 2020. For the first two-plus months of the season, he was one of the best hitters in the American League. He’s cooled off since, but he put on an electrifying performance in the Home Run Derby before losing in the finals to Pete Alonso.

Now, you might be wondering why he’s on this list, and the answer is layered. First of all, Cody Bellinger has been straight up awful for almost a month now as injuries have slowed him this year. Will that continue for much longer? Probably not, but we can’t know for sure. Mookie Betts is also experiencing a “down” year for his standards. Can the front office trust AJ Pollock to remain healthy during the second half? What about Gavin Lux? He still hasn’t experienced a breakthrough. Folks, these are all valid concerns for a team trying to repeat as World Series champs.

That’s where Mancini comes in. He’s versatile. He can play first base and left field. He also played 87 games in right field as recently as 2019. Bringing Mancini to LA would help the Dodgers patch up all of their (minimal) deficiencies from a lineup perspective.

Pollock’s out? Mancini goes to right. Bellinger needs a day off? Plop Mookie in center and put Mancini in right or left. Mookie needs a day off? Mancini goes to right. Don’t trust Lux in a big game? Mancini goes to first base and Max Muncy moves to second.

The veteran has been raking for most of this year on a downtrodden Orioles team destined for MLB’s basement. Energize him by putting him on a World Series roster and the results will burst through the roof.

1. Max Scherzer

No surprise here! Dodgers fans have been fantasizing about this for quite some time now, simply hoping that the Washington Nationals would fall flat on their face. That wild run from Kyle Schwarber was a bit scary, wasn’t it? The Nats were just two games out of first place in the NL East amid their hot streak, and then Schwarber hit the IL.

Now, they’re 42-47 and six games back of the first-place Mets. Time to sell? Not exactly, but there are 14 games before the trade deadline and they’ll need to act fast. Hey, Padres, why don’t you help us out? Washington hosts San Diego for a three-game set right out of the break and a sweep there could convince general manager Mike Rizzo to wave the white flag.

If that does happen, the Dodgers must be the first and only call to the Nationals. Surrender whatever it makes to acquire Scherzer, who just started the All-Star Game and still remains one of the best pitchers in MLB despite being 36 years old. The three-time Cy Young winner just won the World Series two seasons ago and experienced his first sub-par campaign in the shortened 2020 since … 2012? 2011? He’s still the real deal.

With May and Bauer expected to be out for the rest of the way and Kershaw’s elbow troubles likely remaining a chief concern, the Dodgers need another ace, which seems insane to say because they came into the 2021 season with the undisputed best rotation in baseball. Now it’s Walker Buehler and Julio Urias carrying the load alongside Tony Gonsolin and a bunch of bullpenners. That won’t work in October.

Scherzer owns a 2.66 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 3.31 FIP in 17 starts (98 innings) totaling 134 strikeouts. His numbers are inflated, too, after that outing against San Diego in which he gave up a fluke grand slam to a relief pitcher and allowed a season-high seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings of work. He’s twirled quality starts against the Dodgers (twice), Cardinals, Yankees, Reds, Brewers, Phillies, Marlins and Diamondbacks.

Simply put, this is the blockbuster move the Dodgers must make if it’s an option. Assuming Kershaw can get back on track, bringing in Scherzer would probably put the hype train right back where it was on Opening Day.

Dodgers: 3 trade deadline targets LAD need to pass on

With the 2021 trade deadline just a couple weeks away, here are three realistic targets the Los Angeles Dodgers need to pass on.