4 surprise trades Dodgers could make after bombshell deadline rumor

What the Los Angeles Dodgers will actually do at the trade deadline is very much up for debate. The Dodgers beat writers from The Athletic have banged the drum that this will be a trade deadline of restraint, even possibly trading assets from the major league roster to add to the farm system.

Meanwhile, not all agree that Los Angeles will take on a conservative approach. USA Today's Bob Nightengale reports that rival executives believe that the Dodgers will be "greedy" at the trade deadline, motivated by the chance to become the first National League team to win three straight World Series titles.

So with that in mind, what would a greedy Dodgers trade deadline look like? We've put together some trades they could pull off in service of that goal, and while some might not be likely, they are all in the realm of possibility.

4 Dodgers trades Andrew Friedman could pull off if the team gets greedy at the deadline

Trade for Tigers' ace Tarik Skubal

Tarik Skubal's availability is in question, but he'd be the definition of an all-in move for Los Angeles. Even if the Tigers intend to continue competing down the stretch, the Dodgers are one of the few teams with the assets that could convince them to part with Skubal while not giving up on that goal.

The logic behind this crazy three-team trade rumor, essentially giving Detroit a younger and cost-controlled starter with high-end upside in exchange for the two-time AL Cy Young winner, makes sense. If Andrew Friedman put Justin Wrobleski, who is under team control through 2031, plus a couple of prospects on the table, could the Tigers really say no? Maybe, but they'd have to think long and hard about it.

Trade for Padres' closer Mason Miller

An intra-division with a prime rival seems far-fetched, and it seems even more unrealistic when you consider that it'd be for a player of Mason Miller's caliber. With that said, these clubs have linked up for deals before.

The Padres' expected asking price for Miller starts with two top-100 prospects, and who has the most top-100 prospects in the game? That's right, it's the Dodgers. In addition, San Diego could really use a controllable starting pitcher with its rotation in tatters and Michael King set to hit free agency after this year. The Dodgers have plenty of those, and if they land Skubal, they could be convinced to part with one of them.

Getting Miller would take some of the pressure off Edwin Diaz as he returns from elbow surgery, and if Diaz bounces back as expected, LA will have the most deadly late-inning duo in the league.

Trade for Twins' All-Star catcher Ryan Jeffers

Nightengale has also speculated that Will Smith's injury status could have the Dodgers looking into the catching market, and with Dalton Rushing being decent, but nowhere near as good as he was over the first month of the season, you can see the logic.

The catching market isn't as robust as it seems. Shea Langeliers is likely out for the rest of the season, and Hunter Goodman will be prohibitively expensive to convince the Colorado Rockies to part with him. Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is hitting .218/.309/.362 since May 1, and that comes on the heels of a .220/.307/.366 campaign in 2025.

That leaves Ryan Jeffers as the best fit. He's expected to be available. He's a high-end offensive option, while playing at least adequate defense. Most importantly, he's a rental. Los Angeles can grab him now to fill the void, then pair him with Smith to lighten the workload, and then ultimately move on as Smith is under contract for the long haul.

Trade for Reds' fireballer Hunter Greene

The Cincinnati Reds are sellers, and while their primary focus is dealing away their cache of rentals, they're said to be willing to listen to offers for ace Hunter Greene. He could be a nice alternative to Skubal, or he could be a guy who Los Angeles looks to grab alongside Skubal should Andrew Friedman truly decide he's going to blow the doors off this trade season.

Greene won't come cheap. He has two years of team control at reasonable salaries beyond this season, plus he has a $21 million club option for 2029. On the other hand, he's an injury-prone hurler who has never thrown more than 150 innings in a single season. That will have to mitigate his cost.

The Reds' farm system is heavy on shortstops and light on talent in the outfield, making these two teams line up very well for a deal. It's very easy to see the Dodgers offering up some of their minor league outfield surplus and that being good enough to get a trade over the finish line.

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