The Los Angeles Dodgers went into the MLB trade deadline recognizing they needed to make a big splash to remain World Series contenders. While a final analysis of the club’s moves won’t come for months, MLB executives had plenty to say about how the Dodgers fared.
Los Angeles kept itself busy on the trade front. It started with a blockbuster three-team deal with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox, resulting in infielder Tommy Edman and relief pitcher Michael Kopech joining the Dodgers roster.
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The Dodgers front office kept prioritizing defense, adding veteran outfielder Kevin Kiermaier to provide Gold Glove defense and the team swung a trade to reunite with versatile infielder Amed Rosario. Then, with minutes ticking down, Los Angeles made its biggest move for starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.
Los Angeles did make a run at other players. MLB trade rumors coming out of the deadline revealed Blake Snell and Tanner Scott were among the team’s top targets that it just missed out on. As for the deals the team made, they made an impression around the league.
Speaking to Jayson Stark of the Athletic, MLB executives said they were amazed by what the Dodgers wound up landing at the MLB trade deadline. Not only did the club impress its rivals around the league but Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman also received praise from his peers.
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“Andrew always knows how to find a way to extract the talent that he’s looking for. Even if the match isn’t quite there with the team he’s trying to extract the talent from.”
Anonymous National League executive on Los Angeles Dodgers’ president Andrew Friedman
It’s not hard to see why Los Angeles received praise. The club addressed each of its biggest needs and two of the players it acquired (Edman and Kopech) come with multiple years of control. Just as important, adding all of these contributors didn’t come at the cost of the Dodgers top prospects.
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It’s another example of one of the skills the anonymous National League executive highlighted. Friedman saw the Dodgers needs at the trade deadline and found ways to address them all with impact players, doing so in both a three-team trade and multiple deals with other clubs.
While Friedman and the Dodgers front office will ultimately be judged on whether or not they won the World Series, it’s also clear many around the league saw the Dodgers as one of the winners of the MLB trade deadline.
