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.

2. Brandon Drury

If the Dodgers want to spend more to outbid other teams for a better player, then Brandon Drury is the guy. There’s no denying that Drury would have a bigger impact than just being someone who can hit left-handed pitching but other teams also know that and are going to be calling the Reds.

Drury is not some superstar that’s going to warrant a top-100 prospect. However, the Reds could probably get at least one prospect from the Dodgers’ top 12 or so that’s not ranked in the top 100. That’s much more than what Andrew Friedman is going to have to send in a potential Grossman deal.

The Cincinnati infielder has had similar success against left-handed pitching as Grossman this season. In 87 plate appearances against southpaws, Drury has a 1.032 OPS, which is the ninth-best in the league. His power against lefties has been absurd, as he has slugged eight home runs, paving the way for the fourth-best slugging percentage against lefties.

Drury has fared much better against right-handed pitching as well. He has an overall OPS above .800 this season with an OPS+ of 129. Drury also fits the bill for the Dodgers since he can play anywhere in the infield in addition to left field if needed.

The only thing that might hold the Dodgers back is the price versus what the team needs. Drury is someone who is playing like an everyday starter and, in reality, they just need someone who can start against southpaws and come off the bench.

With Drury being on an expiring deal with a small salary, there will be a team that trades significant prospect capital for him, and the Dodgers may not do that because this isn’t that pressing of a need.