Dodgers' trade deadline acquisition had incredible response to LA trade

There’s no denying the Los Angeles Dodgers are a step above the rest of the teams in Major League Baseball. And while that usually manifests itself in the fan base basking in October glory (most of the time), it can also provide a jolt to the players the team adds at the trade deadline — especially if they come from a team that isn’t having that same kind of success.

We got a prime example of that earlier this week thanks to some new insight into how Alex Call reacted to being traded, included in a new story from The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal (subscription required). 

Dodgers' trade deadline acquisition Alex Call had incredible response after getting call about LA deal

In the story, Call broke down what his day was like and how he found out he was going to the Dodgers, where he provided some hilarious insight in the process. 

The first thing that crossed his mind?

“I’m going to the World Series,” Rosenthal wrote. 

Even if Call’s prediction doesn’t turn out to be true, he has a much better chance of going to the World Series with the Dodgers compared to the Nationals, who were circling the drain prior to trading Call to the Dodgers in exchange for two pitching prospects. 

And, to Call’s credit, he’s done a great job helping that push toward the World Series since joining the Dodgers, as he’s hitting .286 with a mammoth home run while also providing some worthwhile value at left field, which had previously been a black hole for the Dodgers all year. 

While it’ll take more than Call to help push the Dodgers past the Padres in the stacked National League West, production from unheralded players like him is the difference between playing deep into October and ending up on the first flight to Cancun after the Wild Card Round. 

We saw it last year with production from guys like Tommy Edman and Anthony Banda, and we’re starting to see it this year with production from guys like Call and Jack Dreyer. 

It also helps that Shohei Ohtani is in the midst of another MVP season, alongside strong campaigns from Will Smith and Freddie Freeman, but those stars can only do so much. For the Dodgers to repeat as World Series champions, they’re going to need production from everyone in the lineup, one through nine. 

Although the Dodgers’ plan for their outfield is still imperfect, thanks to the presence of Michael Conforto on the roster, Call’s comments are even more confirmation that this year’s Dodgers season is World Series or bust.