4 Dodgers making Andrew Friedman's 2026 trade deadline decisions harder by the day

Over the last few years, the Los Angeles Dodgers have allowed the trade deadline to pass quietly. Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes have made their philosophy clear: work overtime in the offseason to avoid overpaying at the trade deadline.

It might be more of the same this year. Katie Woo of The Athletic recently reported that the Dodgers' main deadline goal is to improve their minor league depth. In other words, Los Angeles could end up acting more like sellers than buyers at the deadline. In a way, it makes sense. What kind of improvements does the Dodgers' major league roster need?

But Friedman is nothing if not opportunistic. If the opportunity to make a splash presents itself, he'll engage. Dodgers fans are certainly counting on that. A few things need some clarifying ahead of the trade deadline, though, and Friedman will probably be scratching his head about these four players in the next few weeks.

Is Dodgers prospect Josue De Paula untouchable?

The Dodgers' top four prospects are all outfielders, and two more round out the top 10. Josue De Paula, Mike Sirota, and Zyhir Hope are all expected to be ready for the majors by next season, but the Dodgers' roster has very little room to give even the most promising of top prospects much leeway. The Dodgers are not a homegrown-heavy team.

The Dodgers make the occasional exception, though — Will Smith, Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing — and the latest reports suggest De Paula will be the next. Though the Dodgers don't really deem any of their prospects untouchable, De Paula might be the closest to it in a while.

The Dodgers have a choice: Emmet Sheehan or Eric Lauer?

The Dodgers expect to get Blake Snell back sometime within the next month — definitely after the All-Star break, but probably before the trade deadline — and will have to clear a spot in the rotation, which is already at six.

Emmet Sheehan and Eric Lauer are most at risk, but for very different reasons. Sheehan has struggled this season. His 4.91 ERA is the second-worst in the Dodgers rotation after Roki Sasaki. Lauer has been great since the Dodgers took him off the Toronto Blue Jays' hands, but acquiring a player for nothing, turning him into a diamond, and then flipping him in a big trade is how the Dodgers do business.

LA could always option Sheehan and keep Lauer, but if they're going to make a big addition to the rotation, both might have to go one way or the other. Sheehan's struggles haven't totally ruined his trade value yet, and Lauer's stock is on the rise.

Dodgers pitcher River Ryan is a perfect trade candidate — if he's healthy

This all comes back to whether or not the Dodgers add another starter. If Tarik Skubal or Joe Ryan were to be traded, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins would presumably want a controllable arm in return. The Dodgers have those in spades, but River Ryan could be their best option. Sheehan's stock isn't ruined but it's certainly down, and LA may balk at the idea of moving Justin Wrobleski.

Ryan was electric during his brief stint in the majors in 2024, but he's been in limbo ever since, dealing with Tommy John and, more recently, a hamstring injury.

Friedman and the Dodgers front office have sort of hinted that they have a long-term plan for Ryan and, like De Paula, see him as an exception to their usual rule with prospects. But if he's healthy enough to pull a decent amount of weight in a blockbuster trade, the Dodgers would almost certainly let him go.

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