Michael Kopech's injury timeline could save Dodgers from deeper trade deadline plunge

The Dodgers had Michael Kopech back for all of eight appearances and seven innings before he went right back onto the IL. He initially went down with a right shoulder impingement during spring training, and after a long rehab period came back on June 8. Right knee inflammation sidelined him again by July 1, and he was transferred back to the 60-day IL on July 9 after undergoing a meniscus surgery.

More bad news for LA's bullpen has followed since then. Tanner Scott went onto the IL on Tuesday, and Ben Casparius is day-to-day after being taken out of Tuesday night's game (an MRI on his calf thankfully came back clean). The Dodgers' bullpen, somewhat healthy or not, has had to take responsibility for multiple blowups, making relievers the front office's No. 1 priority at the trade deadline.

However, Kopech could save them some trouble. He won't be eligible to come off of the 60-day IL until late August, but he was confident that he would've been able to come back sooner. "I think Aug. 27 is the earliest I can be back so I have that circled," he said. "If that's realistic, I'll be back then."

Michael Kopech's optimism about return timeline could take some pressure off of Dodgers' front office at trade deadline

That still leaves a little under a month for the Dodgers' bullpen to be one man short, but if they're absolutely positive about Kopech, they could muddle through by keeping one of carousel relievers they already have, or making another small trade for an expendable arm they can DFA at the end of August.

The Dodgers have been connected to a number of closers and high-leverage arms — Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, David Bednar, Ryan Helsley, and Emmanuel Clase, just to name a few. They'll need at least one (though more would be preferable), and some will be tough to get given years of team control remaining and their popularity with other contenders.

Blake Treinen is on the verge of a return, and if the Dodgers can bank on Kopech's return in a month it could take the front office's desperation level down a little. It can't/won't exempt them from making a few deals to add some reassurance, but they may not have to trade as many assets as previously thought.