3 former Dodgers players LA should consider trading for at the deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had an interesting 2023 season. It has been a rollercoaster ride with ups and downs with the team sitting several games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for first place in the NL West.

Los Angeles has the talent to make another World Series run -- the team just needs some reinforcements at the deadline. Andrew Friedman has made it abundantly clear that this team needs pitching and that's what fans should expect to be added before Aug. 1.

Perhaps Friedman could bring back some former Dodgers to help patch up the holes on the roster for a World Series push. There certainly are candidates to consider, especially ones that might be a true blast from the past.

3 former Dodgers players LA should consider trading for

Joe Kelly

The Dodgers need bullpen help and Joe Kelly would provide just that. The hard-throwing right-hander from Rancho Cucamonga would undoubtedly welcome a return back to Southern California and he would probably pitch better than he has for the White Sox this season.

Kelly has not been bad for Chicago, but there's certainly room for someone with his repertoire to improve. Kelly is sporting a 3.96 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and 11.5 K/9. His advanced numbers are still extremely favorable as he ranks in the 90th percentile or better in average exit velocity, expected batting average, expected slugging percentage, and chase rate.

The Dodgers can still maximize pitchers better than any other team in the league (which is why the struggles this year are so concerning) and it shouldn't be a surprise if Kelly were to come back to LA and thrive. After all, Kelly had a combined 2.67 ERA in his last two seasons with the Dodgers despite dealing with injuries for a good deal of time.

With the White Sox continuing to tread water (at best), perhaps a package deal to address the infield/rotation could be of interest to LA.

Rich Hill

Admittedly, the list of former Dodgers that make sense for the team and could actually be traded this season is not that long. Someone like Alex Wood would be great to bring back to LA but there's no reason for the San Francisco Giants to even consider a move like that.

While someone like Wood might be off the table, the Dodgers could get another funky-throwing southpaw via trade in Rich Hill. Despite being well into his 30s when he was a member of the Dodgers, Hill is still spinning it at the big-league level and is a quality arm.

The 43-year-old veteran is sporting a 4.34 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 8.2 K/9 this season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. While those numbers aren't amazing, it's far better than the alternative in LA, which is Noah Syndergaard, Michael Grove, or a bullpen game.

Hill is someone who can simply be an innings-eater for the Dodgers during the regular season with the potential to transition to the bullpen in October. Having his funky southpaw delivery off the heels of a hard-throwing right-hander like Dustin May or Bobby Miller would be extremely hard to pick up for opposing teams.

Despite his age, Hill has been incredibly reliable in recent years. He made 31 starts in 2021, 26 last season, and 15 so far this year. Hill's best years were with the Dodgers, and while that version of him may have sailed, he can still be a quality option down the stretch for a cheap price.