Dodgers: 3 players who survived trade deadline but won’t be on 2022 roster

Congratulations, 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers who are still here! You (hopefully) get to be a part of a Hollywood ending that wraps up with a title defense!

But just because you’re here today doesn’t mean you’re going to make it to 2022. Don’t get too haughty texting with Keibert Ruiz and Josiah Gray, yet. It could come back to haunt you.

This Dodgers roster, once thought to be overstuffed with talent, actually had to acquire some reinforcements at the deadline in order to reach their considerable ceiling. When the campaign began, most believed LA would battle the Padres down the stretch before ultimately pulling away with their superior (and more experienced) offensive depth.

Not many people factored in the rise of the San Francisco Giants, though, which forced the front office to not just reinforce the roster, but do so with the likes of Max Scherzer and Trea Turner. That’ll help.

So congratulations to the remaining Dodgers who made it past this important threshold and — thanks to the lack of an August waiver deadline — are here to stay … ish.

Once the campaign ends, though, no promises. Andrew Friedman has a ton on his docket this offseason. Will he need to reassign money for a Max Scherzer extension after this two-month engagement goes swimmingly, and he becomes essential? Is Corey Seager going to be a Dodger for life? If not, does LA’s braintrust want to explore the rest of the shortstop market, including the disgruntled Trevor Story and eternal enemy Carlos Correa (shudder)? Will the team have to clear more cash after being saddled with Trevor Bauer’s contract?

For either cost-effective reasons or a change in confidence regarding a player’s level of talent, these three Dodgers aren’t necessarily a part of next year’s plans even though they made it to Aug. 1.

These 3 Dodgers might not make the 2022 roster.

3. AJ Pollock

Controversial opinion, sure, but it very much seems like the Dodgers should pay Chris Taylor this offseason, no matter the cost. Perhaps Seager will be receiving a big-money extension, too.

In that case, wouldn’t it make sense to offload Pollock, who’s making $13.75 million per year, has a player option for 2023, and is in the midst of his most sustained hot streak in Los Angeles to wrap this season?

If Pollock has a red-hot, value-boosting October, this almost seems like a guarantee.

As recently as June (a .222 month), the righty outfielder seemed like a prime candidate to be involved in a supplementary salary-matching trade, perhaps with a team like the Yankees that was lacking for both depth and lottery tickets. In July, though, Pollock made himself seemingly indispensable — to this year’s team, at least. He turned on the jets, hitting .371 with a robust 1.121 OPS to lock down an outfield spot as the 2021 Dodgers attempt to reach their collective ceiling.

We still suspect the Dodgers would choose Taylor (and a healthy Cody Bellinger) over him, though, and when Taylor’s cost rises, paying Pollock as depth seems a bit less tolerable.

2. Brusdar Graterol

Once MLB insiders feel confident enough in your involvement in several trade rumors to publicly drop your name, you know your future with your current franchise might not be so stable.

In 2020, Brusdar Graterol was the impressive additional piece to the Mookie Betts/David Price swap, an electric reliever whom the Red Sox declined to add to their package, citing medical concerns and nearly throwing the entire trade off its axis.

Luckily, the Dodgers stepped in, and Graterol rewarded their front office’s faith and wheeling/dealing skills by posting a 3.09 ERA in the shortened season, followed by three spotless outings in the World Series totaling 2.0 innings.

This season, though, has been a different story entirely, backing up Boston’s worries a year too late (through a series of largely unpredictable mishaps). Graterol got a late start to the campaign after battling COVID-19 in the offseason, then found himself relegated to minor-league duty, optioned amid several injury bounce-backs.

It certainly feels like selling low on Graterol to place him up for grabs following a campaign in which he’s posted an ERA in the mid-6.00s, especially for a team like the Dodgers that can brag about a lot of things, but not possessing a stable bullpen. Kenley Jansen is a free agent following 2021, and every role around him is very much not solidified. Will Friedman really resume trade conversations surrounding Graterol once this campaign ends, all things considered?

It’s hard to sell lower than Graterol’s position at the 2021 deadline, though, and it certainly seemed like the team was ready to hope someone else was in love with his advanced metrics so they could move on. He very well may be taking his bowling ball sinker elsewhere come December.