Dodgers' trade deadline goal exemplifies their stranglehold over rest of MLB

Talking about what the Los Angeles Dodgers need to do at the MLB trade deadline can seem elementary. The Dodgers have been connected to Tarik Skubal since the offseason, and with talk of the Detroit Tigers actually moving him this summer, that's going to be the conversation that takes centerstage.

That doesn't mean trading for Skubal is the top priority for Andrew Friedman and Co. before the deadline. Instead, the priority they reportedly have is a reminder of why the Dodgers remain the model franchise in baseball.

The Athletic's Katie Woo dropped an early deadline preview, touching on where things stand for the Dodgers, and their focuses ahead of the tentpole event. She does confirm that the Dodgers will likely be linked to Skubal, but their actual goal has nothing to do with the major league roster.

Woo notes that the Dodgers are determined to replenish their farm system at the deadline, eyeing to add another top prospect or two to the mix. Some outlets have the Dodgers as the best farm system, but they're generally among the top three across the major publications.

Dodgers won't forget the crutch of their organization at the deadline

For that reason, the goal Woo outlined may seem strange, but there's merit behind it. Circling back to Skubal, if the Dodgers do pull off that trade, it's certainly going to make a dent in their system. Given the sheer number of Top 100 prospects the Dodgers have overall, their farm system would likely still be healthy after a potential trade.

Looking beyond a trade of Skubal, there's also the reality of the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz last offseason and losing a total of four picks in the 2026 MLB Draft. Not to mention, the loss international bonus pool money and their weak 2025 international draft class, headlined by Roki Sasaki.

The well of prospects for the Dodgers is far from empty, but as those prospects graduate there is a looming concern there in future years. Hence the proactive approach this summer.

It's a strategy the Dodgers have thrived at in the past. Trading Michael Busch to the Chicago Cubs in 2024 landed LA Zyhir Hope and Jackson Ferris. Hope has emerged as one of the best prospects in baseball, and Ferris was a high-ceiling pitching prospect before his struggles this year.

As for who can be the next version of Busch for the Dodgers, it's very clearly Ryan Ward. He's proven that he's ready for extended runway in the majors, but he's blocked. Similar to Busch in 2024, his best value is as a trade candidate, and one that could ultimately lead to the farm system being restocked.

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