After vowing to steer clear of splashy midseason moves, the Los Angeles Dodgers are now doing the opposite—aggressively exploring high-leverage bullpen upgrades as the MLB trade deadline approaches.
Injuries, inconsistency, and misfired offseason investments have all contributed to the unraveling of a relief corps that was supposed to be a team strength. Instead, it’s become one of baseball’s most glaring liabilities. And now, despite a firm grip on first place in the NL West, Los Angeles finds itself in an urgent search for relief help to stabilize its postseason trajectory.
Friedman’s Promise Meets Reality
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Back in spring training, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman made a bold statement.
“My goal is to not buy in July… It’s terrible.”
He may have spoken too soon. Not only are the Dodgers now buyers, they’re shopping at the top of the market.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, L.A. has checked in on several of the game’s most coveted relief arms: David Bednar (Pirates), Ryan Helsley (Cardinals), Emmanuel Clase (Guardians), and Felix Bautista (Orioles), in addition to previously reported interest in Twins duo Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax.
An Expensive Bullpen Built on Sand
This wasn’t supposed to be the story. The Dodgers committed over $100 million to co-closers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates this offseason and retained Blake Treinen on a two-year deal. But results haven’t matched the investment.
Scott, who signed for four years, has blown seven saves and allowed eight home runs with a 4.09 ERA. Yates missed time with a hamstring strain and has been torched by power hitters, surrendering a .500 slugging percentage.
More troubling: Evan Phillips, arguably the club’s most reliable reliever over the last two seasons, underwent Tommy John surgery. Treinen and Michael Kopech are also on the injured list.
The result is a Dodgers bullpen that ranks 24th in baseball in ERA (4.38) and has cratered to 5.28 over the last month.
Dodgers Trade Rumors: Top Targets on the Board
The relief market is top-heavy, but the Dodgers are focused on legitimate difference-makers—players capable of locking down high-leverage innings in October. Here’s a breakdown of some of the top names under consideration:
David Bednar (Pirates)
The most attainable of the group. Bednar has rebounded from a rocky start to 2025 with a dominant stretch—posting a 1.74 ERA and 36.4% strikeout rate over his last 31 innings. He’s riding a 17.1-inning scoreless streak and would instantly upgrade L.A.’s late-inning options. Though Pittsburgh has been hesitant to move their hometown closer in the past, this time appears different.
Ryan Helsley (Cardinals)
An All-Star caliber closer who recently recorded his 100th career save. While Helsley prefers to remain in St. Louis, the Cardinals are still on the Wild Card bubble and may not want to risk losing him for only a compensatory draft pick. He owns a 3.27 ERA in 2025, down from his elite 2022-24 run, but remains an impact arm.
Jhoan Duran & Griffin Jax (Twins)
Duran is arguably the most dominant reliever on the market—boasting a 1.66 ERA, 15 saves, and no home runs allowed in over 43 innings. His triple-digit fastball and wipeout secondary stuff make him a premier trade chip. If the price proves too steep, Jax is a capable fallback option with a strong K/BB ratio and encouraging peripherals.
Felix Bautista (Orioles)
One of the game’s premier strikeout artists, Bautista has 18 saves and a 2.41 ERA this season. He’s not likely to move unless the Orioles pivot to sell short-term assets—and they currently appear focused on contending.
Emmanuel Clase (Guardians)
Clase is the most intriguing name—especially if he’s part of a larger blockbuster that includes Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan. Clase owns a 2.91 ERA with 20 saves, while Kwan is hitting .285 and could address the Dodgers’ left field instability. As ESPN LA’s Travis Rodgers noted, such a deal would come at a high cost, potentially requiring top prospects like Dalton Rushing, Justin Wrobleski, or Hyeseong Kim.
The Irony of the Dodgers’ Predicament
The Dodgers’ bullpen troubles are, in part, self-inflicted. They spent heavily to avoid being in this very position: vulnerable, reactive, and chasing upgrades at the MLB trade deadline. Yet here they are, with few internal answers and a bullpen that has become a liability.
Nightengale framed it bluntly:
“The Dodgers, who swore up and down all winter and spring that they were going to stay out of the trade market, now have no choice but to get another reliever.”
A Shift From Strategy to Survival Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline
For all their financial muscle and roster depth, the Dodgers now face the same deadline pressure as every other contender—with the added burden of expectations. Standing pat is no longer an option, and any hopes of a deep October run hinge on shoring up the bullpen.
There’s no hiding from it now: Los Angeles will have to spend—either in prospects or payroll—to fix what a bold offseason failed to solve.
Because in 2025, for the Dodgers, buying at the deadline isn’t a strategy. It’s survival.