3 southpaw-mashers the Dodgers should pursue at the trade deadline

There aren’t many big holes on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ roster. While even the best of teams can be tweaked and maximized, there’s not one glaring issue holding the team back. If anything, the biggest hole is something that plays such a small role in the team’s overall success.

That hole is a right-handed bench bat. Because the team sent AJ Pollock to the White Sox for Craig Kimbrel in a bad trade, the Dodgers have failed to have anyone nearly consistent enough off the bench to pinch hit and start against lefties. Hanser Alberto was meant to be that guy, but he has been bad this season (outside of his hype man duties).

We’ve seen the Dodgers pick up southpaw mashers during the season in the past (does Albert Pujols and David Freese ring a bell?). Based on how the roster is currently constructed, it won’t be a shock if they do so again.

Here are three right-handed bats that the Dodgers should pursue at the 2022 trade deadline

3. Robbie Grossman

Okay, Robbie Grossman doesn’t totally fit the prompt because he’s a switch-hitter. However, Grossman is much better from the right side of the plate and has been one of the best hitters in baseball against southpaws this season.

Grossman is slashing .353/.458/.485 against left-handed pitching this season with one home run and six doubles in 68 plate appearances. Grossman ranks 26th in the league in OPS against left-handed pitchers this season while sporting the sixth-best on-base percentage.

The 32-year-old outfielder is a prime candidate to get traded and would also check the box of giving the Dodgers much-needed outfield depth. Detroit is not contending for anything this year and Grossman is on a cheap, expiring contract.

This is exactly the kind of smaller trade target that the Dodgers love to look at. The price would be minuscule and the impact could be big.