Unfortunate Dodgers injury news explains Alex Freeland move, ups trade deadline ante

On Monday, it was reported top prospect Alex Freeland was getting the call to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Fans later found out it was because one of Hyeseong Kim or Tommy Edman would require a stint on the injured list.

We finally got our answer on Tuesday when Kim landed on the IL with shoulder bursitis. That cleared the way for Freeland, but that's a notable hit to the Dodgers infield. Kim was hitting .304 with 12 stolen bases in 58 games. He's also logged reps at second base, shortstop and center field.

Shoulder bursitis certainly presents a longer-term concern, so the promotion of Freeland shouldn't prevent the Dodgers from remaining aggressive at the trade deadline if they need to. Yes, Max Muncy is expected to return, but as of Monday it was reported Kiké Hernandez hasn't even started baseball activities yet. It could be a while before his return.

Though they may not necessarily need to address the infield, it makes the potential acquisition of Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan all the more enticing. If the Dodgers want to improve their roster in a meaningful manner but also keep paths clear for Kim, Muncy and Hernandez, the next phase would be getting rid of a combination of Michael Conforto, James Outman and Esteury Ruiz (though Ruiz can be saved as a pinch runner for the postseason).

Dodgers Injury Update: Hyeseong Kim hitting the IL with shoulder bursitis

They could also look for an upgrade over Miguel Rojas if they feel there are too many reps to go around in the infield at the moment. It's not entirely likely, but we've seen the Dodgers do plenty of crazier things over the last few years.

After all, Kim was a legitimate lightning rod for LA, boasting excellent bat-to-ball skills, impressive defense, and game-changing speed. That's not easy to replace, but it could at least have the Dodgers dreaming bigger than Harrison Bader. Please?

The trade deadline dam has yet to break as the rumors continue to pile up, and the Dodgers are expected to be in the mix for the biggest names out there. But Kim's injury may have given them more of a reason to go over the top to ensure they can keep pace atop the league.