3 waiver trades fans wish Dodgers could make in 2023

Boston Red Sox: Nick Pivetta or James Paxton

One more pitcher would've been swell. That's all, just one. It's been great getting Clayton Kershaw back and seeing Julio Urías and Lance Lynn rediscovering themselves, but the rotation isn't quite a finished product (and nor is the bullpen).

So it would've been nice to have some potential options before September. The Boston Red Sox, who are three games out of a Wild Card spot but still must leap over two teams to join the playoff bracket, might've been willing to sell more than just Kiké Hernandez by the time late August arrived.

They reportedly listened to offers on James Paxton, but placed an exorbitant price tag on the left-hander that dissuaded any suitors. It's unclear if anybody came calling about Nick Pivetta, but there's no reason to think the right-hander would be off the table (and his stuff just so happens to play way up out of the bullpen).

Paxton is a free agent after this year, and Pivetta is under club control through 2024 (and will probably make closer to $10 million next season with an undefined role, as he's been oscillating between the rotation and 'pen for quite a while now). Adding either of those arms would've been huge for the Dodgers.

Another capable lefty in the rotation? Why not?! A right-handed version of Yarbrough with the capability of starting or eating up 4-6 innings out of the bullpen? That helps everybody. And these price tags would have decreased with another 2-4 fewer weeks of control.