3 positions the Dodgers should target over Luis Castillo at the deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers are always one of the teams to watch during the MLB trade deadline, and that is no different this year. Los Angeles has already been tied to Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo, along with several other playoff contenders.

Castillo is the hottest name on the trade block, and the starting price is already going to be high with him having another season under contract. After making the massive Max Scherzer/Trea Turner deal last season, the Dodgers may not want to get in a bidding war.

That is especially true considering LA is already deep in starting pitching and has more reinforcements coming via Walker Buehler, Andrew Heaney and Dustin May. When those three return, the Dodgers will have seven above-average starting pitchers.

Thus, it probably makes more sense for the Dodgers to prioritize other positions rather than chasing after a starting pitcher like Castillo.

Here are 3 positions the Dodgers should target over Luis Castillo at the trade deadline:

3. Outfield

The Dodgers’ outfield is thinner than it has been in recent years because the team decided to trade AJ Pollock for Craig Kimbrel before the season began. One injury to the outfield was always going to significantly hurt it, and that has been the case thus far this year. Mookie Betts missed time and now Chris Taylor is on the IL.

This has prompted the Dodgers to rely on guys like Trayce Thompson to step up and get playing time in the outfield. While Thompson started red-hot for the Dodgers, he is coming back down to earth and is proving that, at the end of the day, he is still a replacement-level player.

While Cody Bellinger is a great fielder, his bat is also a problem, making the need for a fourth outfielder even higher. Andrew Benintendi is the biggest name on the market, but it would not be surprising if the Dodgers preferred bringing in a right-handed bat.

That being said, Benintendi has been able to hold his own against southpaws this season with a .274/.349/.326 slash line. The power goes away, but he still gets on base at a good clip. Regardless of whether it is Benintendi or someone else, outfield help would be great for LA.

2. Relief Pitching

If the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to add any kind of pitching at the deadline this season, it has to be relief pitching. While some of the extra starters will naturally transition into bullpen roles in October, it does not negate the need for quality arms in the ‘pen.

Craig Kimbrel is impossible to trust in the ninth inning of a close playoff game, and we have no idea what Blake Treinen will look like when he returns from the IL this season. There are standouts like Evan Phillips who have been holding it down, but having that extra arm or two would be great.

Cubs reliever David Robertson is perhaps the best option when it comes to relief pitchers on the market this season. The veteran right-handed pitcher has a 2.10 ERA on the season and could essentially replace Daniel Hudson’s role in the bullpen.

It would also be nice to see the Dodgers add a left-handed arm to the bullpen as well. That very well could turn into Tyler Anderson or Andrew Heaney in the playoffs, but besides that route, the Dodgers do not have many quality left-handed options.

David Price won’t be a consistent postseason arm, and Caleb Ferguson is good but gets hurts too frequently. Alex Vesia is the only true left-handed reliever the Dodgers can trust this year, and even he hasn’t been bulletproof.