Surprising Reds trade candidate could end up being perfect fit for Dodgers at deadline

With all the injuries they’ve sustained over the course of the 2025 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers are going to need to add some starting pitching at the upcoming MLB trade deadline.

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan's recent predictions, there is a 65 percent chance that Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Nick Martinez will be dealt at the deadline. That surprisingly high figure was printed before Martinez's near-no-hitter on Friday night against the Padres, which lasted eight pristine innings.

If Martinez is available, he has the perfect combination of upside and versatility for what the Dodgers are looking for. Martinez would be an ideal trade target for Los Angeles.

Nick Martinez's upside for the Dodgers

Nick Martinez signed a two-year, $26 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds after the 2023 season.

Last offseason, Martinez exercised the opt-out clause that was in his contract and went back to Cincinnati on the qualifying offer, which pays him $21.05 million for the 2025 season.

Since returning to Major League Baseball from Japan, Martinez had been used as a hybrid starter and reliever by the San Diego Padres. After signing with the Reds, Martinez continued to thrive while flashing his versatility.

He made 16 starts for the Reds in 2024 and appeared in 42 total games. He went 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA and 1.02 WHIP over 142.1 innings. By all accounts, it was a successful first season for Martinez in Cincinnati.

In 2025, Martinez has been used almost exclusively as a starting pitcher. He has appeared in 18 games, but made 16 starts on the year, which is already approaching his 2024 total.

Martinez had his ERA inflated by a poor outing against the Minnesota Twins on June 19 when he gave up seven earned runs over 2.2 innings. Since then, Martinez has made two appearances out of the bullpen in between his starts and completed three perfect innings, then dominated San Diego in a resurgent return.

Martinez entered Friday's start with a 4-8 with a 4.40 ERA in 2025. It's now down to 4.12.

A Nick Martinez trade makes sense for both Reds and Dodgers

It’s starting to make more and more sense for the Reds to move on from Martinez.

They have Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer, the recently called up Chase Burns, and Hunter Greene (15-Day IL) ready to make up the starting rotation when Greene returns from injury.

Cincinnati is 43-39 with no guarantees of making the postseason. I think if they can cash in on Martinez and get some intriguing prospects that are close to being MLB ready, they should do it.

The Dodgers are one team with an abundance of prospects to offer.

For Los Angeles, I love the investment in Martinez, who can step into the starting rotation immediately and fill a need. With how many injuries the Dodgers have sustained to their starting pitching, Martinez can pitch some meaningful endings for them during the regular season and help them chase down the No. 1 seed in the National League playoff picture.

If some arms return to health and Martinez needs to get bumped to the bullpen for the postseason, he’s more than able to do that too. 

With the San Diego Padres in 2022, Martinez came out of the bullpen in seven playoff games. He did 11 innings, surrendering just one run on three hits while striking out 11. He was totally lights out and was regularly pitching multiple innings out of the pen.

Martinez’s high upside as a starter and intriguing versatility as a reliever makes him the perfect trade target for Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers. I’m all in on this idea.