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

By Mike Luciano |
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 16: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - JULY 16: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 23: Starting pitcher Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs, a Dodgers target (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 23: Starting pitcher Zach Davies #27 of the Chicago Cubs, a Dodgers target (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 16: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MAY 16: Kyle Hendricks #28 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Nic Antaya/Getty Images) /

2. Kyle Hendricks, SP

Hendricks has been one of the most consistent starting pitchers in the game over the last decade, as he has never had an era higher than 3.95 in a season in his career. Hendricks is once again putting up more of the same numbers, as evidenced by a 3.61 ERA buoyed by a recent hot streak.

With Trevor Bauer’s status still just as uncertain as it was a few weeks ago, the Dodgers could stand to add a more permanent long-term replacement. Hendricks, who won’t be a free agent again until the 2024 season, could be a tremendous back-end starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Julio Urias.

Kyle Hendricks would make for a solid starter with the Dodgers.

Hendricks would require a handful of prospects, included several that either close to the MLB level from either Oklahoma City or Tulsa, but the Dodgers have to meet that asking price. Hendricks might not be available next year if the Cubs reboot quickly, so Los Angeles might not get a second chance to make this happen.

Hendricks will bring his high-80s sinker to LA, and while he has had some trouble keeping the ball in the ballpark this year, he’s turned it around of late, and that performance could convince the Dodgers to part with a few pieces of their incredibly deep farm system in order rope in Hendricks.

DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 26: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – AUGUST 26: Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

1. Craig Kimbrel

After a few years where he looked nothing like his old self, Kimbrel has righted the ship, as he has allowed just two earned runs all season long in order to give himself a 0.51 ERA. The unhittable All-Star with the blazing fastball we saw in Atlanta, San Diego, and Boston is officially back.

Kimbrel would easily net the most for Chicago out of all their pitchers, and there is no such thing as having too many great relief pitchers in the modern game. A combination of Kenley Jansen and Kimbrel at the end of games could officially give Dodgers wins as soon as the eighth inning comes around.

Craig Kimbrel would make the Dodgers bullpen unhittable.

Jansen was recently sporting a robust 1.45 ERA, but his last two appearances have seen seven runs cross the plate while his ERA has more than doubled to 3.05. Jansen is still a quality reliever despite what has happened in the last week, and there wouldn’t be a better setup man in the game if the Dodgers make a Kimbrel trade happen.

Kimbrel is not going to come cheap, as some of LA’s more prized prospects will have to be sacrificed in order to get him in Dodger blue. We’re talking about that Michael Busch/Kody Hoese tier, assuming Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray are untouchable. If the Dodgers can come to terms with giving up that haul, Kimbrel would revolutionize that bullpen.

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