5 potential trade targets that could seriously alter Dodgers' 2023 season

Garrett Cooper

There was speculation last season that the Dodgers were trying to trade for Miami's Garrett Cooper, and perhaps it can come full circle this season with a deal at the deadline. The 2022 All-Star is enjoying another nice season at the plate, and would certainly add a much-needed presence in the middle of the Dodgers' order.

The 32-year-old infielder is slashing .310/.342//479 this season with three home runs and 11 RBI in 76 plate appearances. Cooper is not someone who is going to mash 25 home runs in a season, but he could comfortably slug 15-20 homers with a solid average and gap-to-gap power.

Cooper is in his last season of arbitration, and with him being on the wrong side of 30, it seems highly unlikely that a team like the Marlins would be willing to pay him after the season. Thus, Miami trading him and getting something out of him is the most logical move for the franchise.

Finding a spot for Cooper might be a bit tougher than it would have been last season, as he mostly has played either third base or DH at this stage in his career. This might mean shifting Max Muncy over to second base in some instances, as well as giving Miguel Vargas more nights off.

However, Cooper can also play left field, if the Dodgers really need him to. While it would not bring the best fielding presence out in left field, the Dodgers would make up for it by placing great defenders like James Outman and Mookie Betts alongside him. Having Cooper's bat over Chris Taylor or Miguel Rojas would make up for any defensive woes.

Most importantly, Cooper is solid against left-handed pitching. Cooper is hitting .292 with a .822 OPS against southpaws in his career. The Dodgers are 21st in MLB in OPS against left-handed pitchers this season.

Corbin Burnes

Corbin Burnes is a name that every contending team is going to be watching during the deadline. Contract talks between the Cy Young winner and the Milwaukee Brewers have not been going well, with Burnes himself saying that the relationship was hurt.

Burnes has one more year of arbitration after this season, and if the Brewers are in a position to make a run at the Pennant, then the team by no means has to trade him. Milwaukee is currently leading the NL Central, so a trade may not be in the cards.

That being said, the roster is relatively thin, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that the Brewers are on the outside looking in by July. If so, a Burnes trade is almost a guarantee, and the Dodgers should definitely be a team that is interested.

There is no such thing as having too much pitching, even if the rotation will be in a much better place once the team gets healthy. Adding a front-line starter like Burnes could make the Dodgers one of the most unhittable teams in the league, while also making up for some bullpen woes, as the team can move back-end starters into the pen.

Just imagine if the Dodgers traded for Burnes, while Walker Buehler ended up ahead of schedule and returned for a postseason run. LA would have a playoff rotation of Burnes, Buehler, Julio Urías and Clayton Kershaw. Dustin May, Noah Syndergaard, Tony Gonsolin, Ryan Pepiot and even Gavin Stone could all pitch out of the bullpen.

Shohei Ohtani

This is obviously the biggest name on this list, as Shohei Ohtani is the best player in baseball. Dodgers fans have been optimistically waiting for Ohtani's contract with the Los Angeles Angels to expire after the 2023 season so the team could potentially lure him to LA with its winning ways.

But the Dodgers may not even need to wait that long. ESPN's Jeff Passan recently outlined Ohtani's future and how important it is for the Angels to win games. Passan said that Ohtani leaving if the team misses the playoffs is definite, and that if the Angels are struggling yet again, then a trade could even be in the cards.

The price would be astronomically high, even with Ohtani being a one-year rental. Every contending team would be in the race for Ohtani, as they look to not only bolster their playoff chances, but get him in the building early to sign an extension.

Some may argue that the Dodgers should simply wait, since Ohtani is going to test the market anyway and could come to the Dodgers in free agency. While that is true, it is impossible to blame Andrew Friedman for wanting to get Ohtani in the building ASAP to work out a contract extension before he has the chance to leave.

It worked with Mookie Betts, and as long as the Dodgers are offering Ohtani what he is looking for, then it could happen with him as well.

The Angels would actually be better off doing business with their Southern California rivals as well. Not only do the Dodgers have a rich farm system, but they theoretically would be willing to bid higher, since they know they have a chance of locking Ohtani down long-term. A team that knows he will only be a rental is only willing to offer so much.

Aroldis Chapman

Aroldis Chapman would have the smallest impact of anyone on this list, but he might be the most likely trade target for the Dodgers this season. The Dodgers need bullpen help badly, especially of the left-handed variety, as Alex Vesia has been a disaster thus far this season.

It looked like the days of Chapman being an above-average reliever were over. His velocity was down in New York, and it got so bad (and he got so frosty) that he was not included on the postseason roster. However, his velocity has suddenly returned in Kansas City, and he has pitched well to this point.

Chapman has not allowed single run in his first eight appearances for the Royals this season. He has struck out 15 batters in eight innings of work and is sporting a 0.500 WHIP. His days as an elite closer are probably over, but thus far, he is proving that he can be a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen.

The Dodgers almost traded for Chapman when he was with the Cincinnati Reds, so there is some familiarity there with the front office. Eight years removed from that near-trade, the Dodgers may come full circle and add one of the most prolific relievers of this generation.

Kansas City definitely should have every intent on trading Chapman, as long as there is a market this season. The Royals are not going anywhere this year and signed him on a one-year flier, probably in the hopes of him rebounding so he could have a trade market.

He is the most available player on this list, and he perfectly fits a need that the Dodgers have. Don't be shocked if Chapman is wearing Dodger Blue by August 1.