2 trade rumors Dodgers hope come true and 1 they hope doesn't happen

We are now less than five days away from the trade deadline, and while a lot of the league is expected to be dormant during it, the Dodgers aren't in that category. If anything, they may be one of the most active teams, as a top contender with a lot of cracks to paste over if they really want to make it deep into the postseason this year.

LA seems to be attached to pretty much every big name that's been floated as a possible trade piece, and they have the resources and willingness to go out to get them. But, unfortunately, the Dodgers don't exist in a vacuum, and there are also scenarios where they lose out on some of their most prized pieces to some very intimidating foes.

2 trade rumors Dodgers hope come true

Dodgers pull off a blockbuster for Garrett Crochet, Luis Robert Jr., Michael Kopech

Bob Nightengale only reported that the Dodgers had talked about a blockbuster with the White Sox earlier this week, but it feels like it's been a lifetime since then with how desperate fans are to see it happen. LA was very in on Crochet before word about a potential blockbuster reached fans' ears; while his name alone would've been enough to make us excited, the potential to get both him and Luis Robert Jr. in Dodger blue in one fell swoop was almost too good to be true.

Of course, the Dodgers aren't alone in this chase. Both the Orioles and Phillies (more on that later) are said to be interested, and both could have what it takes to sway the White Sox away from a deal with the Dodgers. However, no team has been attached to Crochet quite as much as LA, which is hopefully a sign that they're keeping White Sox GM Chris Getz on the phone at all times.

Jon Heyman reported (though there was some confusion about his wording) that Crochet would be looking for a contract extension from any team he's traded to in order to get him to pitch in the postseason. While that could be a bit of a leap for the Dodgers, who don't know how well recently-injured, reliever-turned-starter Crochet will actually perform when tasked with starting postseason games, they do have the means to fulfill that request.

If that ask from Crochet doesn't put the Dodgers off, it's hard to imagine the kind of haul the White Sox would pull from LA's system in return for not only Crochet, but Robert and Kopech as well. Crochet could get at least three top prospects alone, while the other two certainly don't hurt the White Sox's value here. While this season most definitely a wash for Chicago, they probably wouldn't say no to a couple of the Dodgers' more dispensable major league guys (Gavin Lux? Jason Heyward, for salary relief?) thrown in as sweeteners.

Crochet, Robert, and Kopech could alleviate three of LA's ills in one go. This is the one the Dodgers need to make happen.

Dodgers acquire slugging outfielder

While some of the names that the Dodgers have been connected to do seem a bit like consolation prizes (Jack Flaherty, Yusei Kikuchi) if they can't get their top choices (Crochet, Tarik Skubal), Randy Arozarena and Luis Robert Jr. were roughly on equal footing. With Arozarena now off the table, the Dodgers need to pivot to Robert Jr., and quickly. From that point forth, they need to secure an outfielder by any means necessary, even if they don't end up with their top-ranked choice.

Chris Taylor just went onto the IL, which has landed James Outman in the majors once again. Neither Taylor nor Outman in the outfield is ideal, to say the least. The same can be said about Jason Heyward. If the Dodgers were to add two standout bats they can rely on, that would solve their problems. It would almost certainly mean less playing time for Andy Pages, who the Dodgers seem to love, but otherwise having a guy like Robert on top of one more big bat in the lineup would make that seem like a small sacrifice.

Arozarena somehow didn't cost a pretty penny, given his two more years of team control and his history of postseason greatness. Perhaps that bodes well for the Dodgers being able to pull something spectacular off here.

1 trade rumors Dodgers hope doesn't happen

Orioles/Phillies get Garrett Crochet and/or Jack Flaherty

As foreshadowed, the flip side of a potential trade for Garrett Crochet is that the Dodgers will be facing strong competition when things get down to the wire. The Orioles and Phillies are both at least interested in Crochet and Flaherty, and the Orioles have been connected to the former for about as long as the Dodgers have.

The Phillies getting either of these pitchers would probably lead to more immediate worry from the Dodgers, who very well might see them in the NLCS. Of course, if the Dodgers were to pull out a victory there, then their most likely competition in the World Series would be the Orioles — but, again, their most immediate concern is Philly.

The Dodgers do have something that the Phillies don't, though: a good farm system. While both pale in comparison to the Orioles', the Dodgers have the eighth-best system in MLB, per MLB Pipeline, and the Phillies have the eighth-worst. They're running an incredibly tight ship over there in Philadelphia, so it doesn't seem like they would be able or willing to give up any of their major leaguers to make a trade for Crochet or Flaherty happen, nor do they have the prospect power to do so without gutting their farm entirely.

Still, though. The Phillies have a ton of money, just like the Dodgers, and almost as much to prove in the postseason after getting so close to a World Series win over the last two seasons. LA has two very worthy foes to fend off here for arguably their No. 1 and No. 2 most wanted starters, and either of them going elsewhere would spell trouble for the Dodgers.