Dodgers' trades thus far prove they learned nothing from Joey Gallo

The Los Angeles Dodgers were loaded with talent in 2022. Los Angeles would eventually go on to set the all-time franchise win mark with 111 wins, which was just the fifth time in MLB history that a team reached that mark.

With so much talent on the roster, the Dodgers didn't need to make sweeping additions at the trade deadline. Instead, the team made moves around the edges and took a flier on once-prominent slugging outfielder Joey Gallo. With Cody Bellinger in the middle of his struggles, the hope was that the Dodgers would be able to fix one of the powerful-hitting lefties.

That did not happen. Gallo's struggles continued in LA as he finished his short Dodgers career with a .162 batting average and .671 OPS. The Dodgers did not trust him to get a single plate appearance in the postseason as a result.

Now, a year later, the Dodgers are in a similar position atop the NL West but with a roster that has been beaten up by injuries and is not as talented as a year ago. Yet the trade deadline moves have been similar. Just like with Gallo, the Dodgers have taken two fliers on players who have been really bad this season, Kiké Hernandez and Amed Rosario. And let us tell ya, we wrote this before they also added Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn!

Dodgers obviously learned nothing from the Joey Gallo trade

Let's be clear, there are differences between the Gallo trade and the two others made this week. Gallo was traded for a promising pitching prospect Clayton Beeter, who has posted a 2.48 ERA in the Yankees' farm system this season. Hernandez was acquired for two Triple-A relievers and Rosario was acquired for the flailing Noah Syndergaard. The cost was minimal for the Dodgers.

And there's also still the chance for the team to come over the top with more impactful moves. Just because these are the first two transactions the Dodgers made doesn't mean it they'll be done. But if they are... fans should be upset.

Yes, it is legitimately exciting for Hernandez to be back in LA, and Rosario does hit left-handed pitching decently well. But both guys have been woeful this season and the Dodgers' overconfidence in fixing players could hurt them. This team needs much more than two projects that may not work out. Is this option really that much better than just giving playing time to Miguel Vargas and Michael Busch?

Is it fair to expect the Dodgers to go out and add a superstar at the deadline? Probably not, especially when teams like the Los Angeles Angels are going to overpay for guys like Lucas Giolito. But if this team wants any chance of sniffing a World Series this year, then there have to be bigger "improvements" than the ones made thus far.

Andrew Friedman and the front office still have until Aug. 1 to make a move. Let's hope that there's something bigger brewing in the chamber.