5 possible Dodgers trade candidates that aren't available in talks just yet

Kenley Jansen/Adam Duvall

How about a two-for-one?! The Red Sox are two games out of a Wild Card spot, but don't really look like a team built for the postseason. Seriously, what are they?

You can bet on this ownership group selling selling selling if they don't feel like they're in an advantageous position (they aren't), but they've yet to wave the white flag. When that eventually happens, look for Chaim Bloom to dangle closer (and former Dodger!) Kenley Jansen as well as outfielder Adam Duvall.

Jansen isn't having a bulletproof campaign, but he was an All-Star and has 19 saves on the season. His 3.23 ERA, 3.05 FIP and 0.9 HR/9 are more than suitable for the Dodgers' awful bullpen. We might have to sweat a bit about his 1.37 WHIP and 3.8 BB/9, but Dodgers fans have already lived through this. And truth be told, he's been missed since he departed after 2021 (and most of his poor play this season has come at Fenway Park).

As for Duvall, the slugging outfielder also destroys lefty pitching, and the Sox would be elated to trade him since he'll be a free agent in the offseason. Duvall has an .850 OPS and 124 OPS+ in 32 games this year; he missed a good chunk of the first half with an injury, but has been raking ever since. Plus, outfield insurance across multiple positions (he can play left, center and right) would go a long way for the Dodgers, who could probably stand to shuck Trayce Thompson off the roster and send Jonny DeLuca back to the minor leagues.

Gleyber Torres

In the event the Dodgers don't want to use Mookie Betts more than they're comfortable with at second base after Miguel Vargas was optioned, then Friedman needs to keep an eye on the New York Yankees, who are, at best, a .500 team without MVP Aaron Judge.

Currently a game out of a Wild Card spot, the Yankees season hinges on Judge's return, but there's been little to no word on his status outside of vague updates and hopeful shots in the dark that he'll be back "soon." Even if Judge does return, though, it feels like Gleyber Torres might be trade bait.

He was reportedly dangled at last year's deadline and again in the offseason, but nothing was ever worked out. The veteran second baseman is a good baseball player, but his mental lapses have driven Yankees fans insane. More often than not, he's canceling out his positive production with boneheaded plays/decision making.

He's really felt like a "change-of-scenery" trade candidate for a few years now, and LA might be a soft landing spot for him. After blowing the lid off his career with two All-Star campaigns in 2018 and 2019, Torres has been unable to reach that peak again, but still remains a serviceable major leaguer that would undoubtedly help a team looking to improve their middle infield.

He hit 24 homers and drove in 76 runs last year, finishing with a 115 OPS+. This year, he's hit 13 bombs, driven in 36 runs, and owns a 105 OPS+. He's also struck out just 53 times in 375 plate appearances. The Yankees have a glut of middle infield talent and might be willing to part with Torres. The price may not be too steep, either.

Nolan Arenado

Nolan Arenado is on the Mount Rushmore of All-Stars Dodgers fans have wanted the team to trade for. And that dream could become a reality, depending upon just how far the Cardinals are willing to sell after their disastrous 38-52 start. Unless they can get back to .500 before the deadline, there's no sense in St. Louis seeing this through.

With Paul Goldschmidt hitting free agency after the 2024 season and the Cardinals stuck with the very bad Steven Matz, Willson Contreras and Miles Mikolas contracts, they truly might not have a choice but to consider moving a star like Arenado so they can recoup some cost-effective talent.

Signed through 2027, Arenado carries a ~$27 million AAV from 2024 until the end of his deal. He's still playing at an All-Star level and is a bonafide Gold Glover. The only drawback here is clogging the payroll a bit in the short-term if the play for Shohei Ohtani plus other top talent is on the table for the offseason (it likely is). Plus, trading prospects for someone's age-32-36 seasons is never the most prudent idea.

Then again, the Dodgers have managed their money well and put themselves in a position to spend. They have a deep farm system that can afford to take a hit with a group of prospects heading out the door. Adding Arenado into the mix would also likely help the team's pitch to Ohtani, who wants his next destination to be a winning environment. The Dodgers already have that, and will elevate the offering by making a blockbuster at the deadline.

But it all hinges on how extreme the Cardinals opt to go with their makeover and how much they will be asking for. Either way, the Dodgers need to be ready to pivot, because the deadline is all about expecting the unexpected.