Dodgers Rumors: Insider's list of trade candidates hints at blockbuster deadline

Per FanGraphs, the Dodgers have a 99.6% chance of making the postseason, tied with the Phillies for the second-best odds, just behind the Yankees at 99.9%. This is basically par for the course; the Dodgers have been a perennial postseason contender throughout most of the franchise's history, and with five potential 2024 All-Stars at the top of the lineup and two starters who are on the right track for their first All-Star appearances, it was clear from Opening Day that we would see this team in October.

However, with every strength there seems to be a caveat. The top of the lineup is great, the bottom isn't. Those two potential All-Star pitchers — Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto — are still making starts irregularly because of injury and workload concerns. The bullpen has gotten a lot better, but there's no clear timeline to return on many of their injured arms. And then there's the entire Mookie Betts at shortstop debacle.

All of this is to say that the Dodgers, despite the near-certainty that they'll not only make the postseason but do so with ease, have some issues to address at the upcoming trade deadline on July 30, less than 50 days away.

The Athletic's Jim Bowden threw out a couple names the Dodgers could eye as we inch closer to the deadline, focusing on outfielders and relievers (subscription required).

Jim Bowden of The Athletic connects Dodgers to Luis Robert Jr., Cedric Mullins, even Jazz Chisholm Jr. as trade deadline targets

Bowden's inclusions were all suppositions and potential fits, but his lists do present a fun thought experiment for Dodgers fans. He listed outfielders Luis Robert Jr., Cedric Mullins, Taylor Ward, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Michael Conforto, Spencer Steer, and Ian Happ, as well as relievers Tanner Scott, Kyle Finnegan, and Michael Kopech.

Robert hasn't been connected with the Dodgers in any real way yet, but his name has been thrown out there as a player who could be the perfect lift for the Dodgers outfield and offense. Mullins is a new one, but he could plausibly be on the table for the Orioles if they want to give No. 4 prospect Heston Kjerstad more of a shot in the majors. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is an eyebrow-raising inclusion, given his history of beef with Miguel Rojas, and it's unlikely the Dodgers would bring him over with his .250/.318/.425 and potential to disrupt the clubhouse chemistry.

Even if some of the listed names seem like unrealistic or bad fits for the Dodgers, it does point to a general understanding that the Dodgers have a lot of money and resources, and they're anticipated to use both when the deadline comes around to really fortify this team as one that can make a deep postseason run.