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Ranking Dodgers’ rumored trade targets ahead of Aug. 2 deadline

By Thomas Carannante

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds is congratulated by teammate Luis Castillo #58 after Drury fielded a hit by DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees for the out in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: Brandon Drury #22 of the Cincinnati Reds is congratulated by teammate Luis Castillo #58 after Drury fielded a hit by DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees for the out in the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on July 14, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Tyler Anderson #31 of the Los Angeles Dodgers catches Ian Happ #8 of the Chicago Cubs (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) /

3. Ian Happ

With Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy still not exactly coming around, the Dodgers might be searching for a left-handed bat at the deadline. In this case, possibly adding Ian Happ (a switch-hitter) to plop in left field (which would relegate Thompson to a more defined bench role and better the Dodgers’ depth) would make an enormous difference.

Happ was an All-Star in 2022 and is currently slashing .279/.366/.441 with a 126 OPS+. Though his power has taken a bit of a hit (only nine homers), he’s been a doubles machine (23) and is on pace for a career-best in the average department (suck on that, haters!).

The 27-year-old has been demolishing lefty pitching as a right-handed bat (.346/.407/.513 slash line in 47 games), which is what LA needs badly right now. Then again, such a trade with the Cubs wouldn’t be cheap. Happ is under team control through 2023 (his final year of arbitration) while he’s in the midst of a career year.

The talent level can’t be overlooked, though. And putting a bat like his possibly between Freddie Freeman and Gavin Lux would deepen the Dodgers’ lineup even more (which seems unrealistic). It just depends on the price … but if the Dodgers want to work out a package deal for reliever David Robertson, perhaps this could be an easy one-stop shop for LA and Chicago where both parties are left satisfied.

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