Dodgers Rumors: LA linked to division rival trade, 2 other surprising candidates

The question isn't who the Los Angeles Dodgers will be linked to at the MLB trade deadline, but who they won't trade for. The Dodgers have all the assets a rebuilding team could want, and the financial flexibility to afford even the most expensive trade assets. Sorry if we sound like Andrew Friedman these days, but GM-speak tends to make the rounds this time of year.

Finding weaknesses in this Dodgers roster isn't easy! Sure, Kyle Tucker could be better. Yes, the rotation depth is questionable given the injury history of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, not to mention they rely on their DH to throw every sixth day. Yet, the Dodgers were No. 2 on FanSided's latest MLB Power Rankings for a reason, and the Braves are losing their stranglehold on the top spot.

The Dodgers are favored to three-peat for a reason, and ESPN's Jeff Passan has an idea of which trade deadline acquisitions they'll pursue to help them get there.

Dodgers Rumors: ESPN links Los Angeles to three trade deadline candidates

If the intro didn't make it clear, the Dodgers can do anything they want. It's up to Friedman to decide what's actually in the best interest of the organization long term. The goal isn't just to three-peat, but have sustained success that outlives the likes of Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and even Shohei Ohtani, if that's possible for any of us.

Gleyber Torres

We're going to start with the most complicated trade of the bunch. The Dodgers are already favored to land Tarik Skubal. Could they make a deal for Gleyber Torres, or include him in the Skubal trade? The issue with trading for Torres is that he's back on the injured list. He suffered a 'side' injury, per the Tigers, and won't be back for at least 10 days. This came just over a week after he recovered from his last injury to his hamstring. When healthy, Torres has a .791 OPS and would be an upgrade at second base over Alex Freeland. As Passan notes, staying healthy is a big concern.

Aroldis Chapman

Can the rich get richer? Are you familiar with the Los Angeles Dodgers? Sure, the Dodgers bullpen has had its issues of late. The scoreless innings streak of late-May is a distant memory in the minds of baseball fans. Yet, this bullpen still features Tanner Scott and, perhaps after the All-Star Break, Edwin Diaz. If you add Chapman to that mix — the Red Sox closer who has a 0.44 ERA on the season — good luck scoring on this team past the seventh inning.

Luis Arraez

It'd take one heck of an offer for the San Francisco Giants to make a trade with the Dodgers. Yet, here we are. Passan and Kiley McDaniel listed the Dodgers as a possible trade suitor for Giants infielder Luis Arraez. In the column, Passan highlighted the improvements Arraez has made defensively at second base. That is exactly where the Dodgers would play Arraez, should the Giants be forced to take the best offer available, which very well might come via Los Angeles.

Arraez has one of the best strikeout-to-walk ratios in MLB. He is consistently a good at-bat, and a throwback in a league full of hitters all-too-content to pull the ball with a wide-open hole in between third base and shortstop. I'll happily give Arraez his flowers, and if he becomes a Dodger he'll be all the more frustrating for the rest of baseball.

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