Dodgers: 3 Chicago Cubs that LA needs to acquire at the deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers will once again be buyers at the trade deadline, as they can sacrifice some parts of their depleted farm system in order to stave off the white-hot Padres and chase the rival San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

They might need some help from the Chicago Cubs to get it done.

The trade of Joc Pederson to Atlanta should be the first in what will be a very thorough cleansing of the roster. The Cubs are about to sell for the first time in years, and the Dodgers should pounce on this opportunity.

The Cubs could offload Kris Bryant, but the Dodgers should focus on pitching, as adding another quality starter or shutdown relief pitcher might be the secret ingredient that helps the Dodgers wiggle into the postseason and repeat as champions.

These 3 Cubs could all be on the move, and the Dodgers’ front office should absolutely make concerted efforts to acquire all of them considering what a natural fit they would be on this roster.

These 3 Cubs trade rumors should help the Dodgers.

3. Zach Davies, SP

Davies, acquired in the Yu Darvish deal, hasn’t had the most unbelievable run in Chicago, as a 4.30 ERA in 21 starts hardly screams “must-have deadline acquisition.” However, considering what Davies was able to do over the last two seasons in Milwaukee and San Diego (and what else is on the market), the arrow could point up if he ends up with the Dodgers.

Davies posted a 3.30 ERA in 2019 and 2020, including a 2.73 ERA during his brief stint with the Padres. The soft-tossing righty could easily replicate that performance in LA, where he might play in a more pitching-friendly environment.

Zach Davies could perform better with the Dodgers.

Davies’ value is not as high as it was in the offseason, meaning that the Dodgers could bring him in without having to part with some of their best prospects in order to do so. At the very worst, Davies could solidify the back end of the rotation and move into a long relief role in the postseason.

The Dodgers had some success with Kenta Maeda in that very role, and Davies could be a worthwhile addition if he is able to eat up innings in the regular season and perform like Maeda in the postseason. Toss a handful of Great Lakes or Rancho Cucamonga prospects to Chicago and Davies will be on his way.