The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the best teams in baseball this season, but they suffered two significant blows weeks out from the MLB trade deadline with injuries to Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Now, it’s time to highlight potential Dodgers trade targets to fill the voids in the roster.
Even before the injuries to Betts and Yamamoto, there were holes on the Dodgers roster that needed to be addressed. Los Angeles had already been connected to relievers on the trade market and there were reports the team was eyeing a shortstop. Now, the list of needs at the MLB trade deadline has grown.
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With all that in mind, let’s dive into the list of Dodgers trade targets.
Jazz Chisholm Jr, outfield/shortstop, Miami Marlins
Entering MLB games today, Dodgers’ center fielders rank 19th in OS (.656) and 20th in FanGraphs WAR (0.8) through 73 games. It’s part of the reason why Los Angeles has been linked in rumors to Luis Robert. However, pulling off a deal for Jazz Chisholm Jr. could accomplish multiple things.
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Chisholm played shortstops for several years with the Miami Marlins and has experience (1,308 innings) playing second base. While he isn’t great there defensively, he wasn’t on the Gavin Lux level. Chisholm could be a short-term replacement on the infield until Betts returns and then shift back to center field when the NL MVP candidate is back. Plus, he’s under team control through 2026 and he’s responsible for a .787 OPS over the last three seasons.
Tyler Anderson, starting pitcher, Los Angeles Angels
Yamamoto is out indefinitely, Clayton Kershaw is still weeks away from a return and Michael Grove is also on the injured list. Simply put, the Dodgers rotation just needs healthy bodies who Dave Roberts can rely on to eat innings. He knows from experience that Tyler Anderson can do just that.
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The 34-year-old southpaw posted a 2.57 ERA with a 1.00 WHIP and a 138-34 K-BB ratio in 178.2 innings with the Dodgers in the 2022 season. After an awful 2023 campaign with the Los Angeles Angels, Anderson has rebounded this season with a 2.58 ERA and 1.19 WHIP across 14 starts. Anderson would offer immediate support for the Dodgers rotation and he’s under contract for $13 million in 2025, which gives Los Angeles some long-term security.
Paul DeJong, shortstop, Chicago White Sox
Of all our Dodgers trade targets, Paul DeJong would be the biggest band-aid move and there are drawbacks. The 3-0-year-old shortstop doesn’t offer any real value defensively and he’s not an on-base threat (.289 OBP) whatsoever. However, he would provide some more pop to the Dodgers lineup.
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In terms of what he brings right the bat, Chicago’s right-handed bitter boasts the seventh-highest slugging percentage (.480) with the third-most home runs (14) among shortstops. We should also note that DeJong (0) actually ranks ahead of Bo Bichette (-1) in Baseball Savant’s Fielding Run Value. Plus, with the White Sox in a total rebuild, DeJong is already available for trade.
Luis Robert, outfielder, Chicago White Sox
The reality is among the MLB trade candidates available this summer, there just aren’t many compelling options at shortstop. If Los Angeles sticks with Miguel Rojas at that spot, the next logical move is to find an offensive-first outfielder to make up for it in the outfield.
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The asking price for Robert is going to be massive. He’s an All-Star center fielder under team control through 2027 and his salary never tops $20 million in a season. If Andrew Friedman is willing to part with multiple of the Dodgers top prospects, however, Robert’s addition would fill a void. Plus, when Betts returns, the Dodgers would have the best lineup in baseball.