Despite a headline-grabbing offseason and sky-high expectations, the Los Angeles Dodgers have found themselves hampered by a problem few saw coming: an injury-riddled and underperforming starting rotation.
The team entered 2025 touting what looked like unmatched pitching depth. But injuries to Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and prized rookie Roki Sasaki have exposed the cracks in that plan. While the current rotation of Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw, and Landon Knack boasts past success, only Yamamoto has kept his ERA under 4.00. As a group, the Dodgers’ starters have combined for a team ERA of 4.10—good for just 22nd in the majors.
That’s not the standard for a team intent on defending its World Series title.
Los Angeles Dodgers Rumors: Injury Woes Force Team To Make Big Move
The Dodgers still sit atop the NL West with a narrow lead, but their margin for error is shrinking—and so is their patience. With more than a dozen arms on the injured list and an overworked bullpen, the front office is expected to be aggressive at the deadline. One name rising to the top of the rumor mill: Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta.
Peralta, 29, is having a career-best season with a 2.77 ERA and 66 strikeouts across his first 12 starts. He’s under team control through 2026 with a highly affordable $8 million club option—making him not just a top-tier arm, but also one of the most valuable trade chips on the market. According to FanSided insiders Robert Murray and Zach Pressnell, the Brewers could consider cashing in, even as they remain in the playoff hunt. It wouldn’t be the first time Milwaukee prioritized long-term value over short-term contention; they previously dealt Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes, and Devin Williams under similar circumstances.
The Dodgers, one of MLB’s most aggressive buyers and home to a top-tier farm system, are uniquely positioned to make a compelling offer. Names like James Outman, Bobby Miller, River Ryan, and Jackson Ferris—once core pieces of the Dodgers’ future—may now be viewed as expendable assets in pursuit of another championship. Outman, for instance, has struggled to regain his 2023 form, and could interest Milwaukee as a buy-low candidate with upside.
A deal centered around prospects and MLB-ready talent is feasible, and even logical from Los Angeles’ perspective. Peralta brings postseason experience, immediate rotation stability, and contractual control beyond 2025. He would allow the Dodgers to solidify their staff without betting on the health of their returning stars.
Of course, the Brewers may ultimately choose to hold. They’re 34-29, in the thick of the NL playoff picture, and Peralta is the type of pitcher you don’t trade unless the return is overwhelming. But if Milwaukee’s front office sticks to its established blueprint—and if the Dodgers are willing to meet the price—this could be the blockbuster move that reshapes the National League.
For a team battered by injuries but still clinging to World Series aspirations, the Dodgers may not have the luxury of waiting. Freddy Peralta might be the reinforcement they need before October slips out of reach.