As the 2025 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once again at the center of the market’s biggest conversations. While bullpen help remains the most pressing need, L.A. is reportedly exploring a potential high-profile deal with the Cleveland Guardians that could land them both Gold Glove outfielder Steven Kwan and former Cy Young winner Shane Bieber.
Dodgers Prioritize Bullpen Help—But Rotation, Lineup Not Off Limits
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers are actively searching for “at least one” right-handed reliever, with Pete Fairbanks of the Rays among their targets. Fairbanks, who owns a 2.75 ERA and a 2.89 FIP this season, has seen a dip in strikeouts but remains effective thanks to a 47.8% groundball rate and club control through 2026. With Jhoan Duran and Ryan Helsley off the board, L.A. will also keeping tabs on Steve Bednar and Mason Miller, although the acquisition cost for either may push them toward a more attainable name like Fairbanks.
Still, bullpen help may not be the only avenue they’re pursuing. Per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the Dodgers have also spoken with Cleveland about right-hander Shane Bieber, a move that would both fortify their depth and signal another aggressive win-now push.
Shane Bieber Drawing Trade Interest Despite Injury
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Though Bieber has yet to pitch in the majors in 2025 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, he remains one of the most intriguing arms on the market. The 30-year-old is a proven frontline starter when healthy, with a 2.91 ERA and 2.96 FIP since 2020. His recent rehab outing for Double-A Akron suggests he could be ready for big-league action sometime in August.
There is risk, of course. Bieber made just two starts in 2024 before his elbow issues flared up again, following a 2023 season also marred by injury. But teams like the Dodgers, Cubs, Yankees, and Blue Jays appear willing to bet on his upside. A $16 million player option for 2026 (with a $4 million buyout) likely won’t deter suitors, given how underpaid he would be if healthy.
Dodgers Rotation: Stacked On Paper, Fragile In Reality
Despite boasting names like Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Roki Sasaki, the Dodgers’ rotation has been anything but stable. Ohtani, limited by pitch counts, has only made six starts. Glasnow, Snell, and Sasaki have all missed significant time. In fact, L.A. currently has six starters on the 60-day IL.
Adding Bieber might feel redundant on paper, but history suggests otherwise. The Dodgers’ postseason rotations have collapsed due to injury in consecutive Octobers. A healthy Bieber, even for five starts in September and a playoff run, could make a critical difference.
Steven Kwan: A Fit for the Present and Future
While Bieber’s availability has sparked interest, it’s Steven Kwan who may be the most compelling prize in Cleveland. The Guardians outfielder is in the midst of another strong campaign, slashing .286 with nine home runs and 38 RBI, and earning a second consecutive All-Star nod. A two-time Gold Glove winner under team control through 2027, Kwan represents both an immediate boost and a long-term solution in the outfield.
The Dodgers have long been linked to Kwan, but now face competition from the Padres and Reds, per Jon Heyman. “Padres and Reds in addition to Dodgers (and others) are in on the Steven Kwan derby,” Heyman wrote on social media. “Kwan with Luis Arraez would be quite the interesting combo.”
Dodgers Trade Rumors: Could a Blockbuster Package Be Brewing?
If the Dodgers are serious about both Kwan and Bieber, the cost will be steep. Cleveland has no pressing need to deal either, and both players come with team control beyond this season. To get a deal done, Los Angeles might need to offer a premium package centered around elite prospects like catcher Dalton Rushing, along with MLB-ready depth.
Still, this is the kind of move Andrew Friedman and the Dodgers front office have executed before—targeting controllable, high-upside talent even when the cost is uncomfortable.
Final Thoughts: Dodgers Eyeing Depth, Flexibility, and Postseason Insurance
With the 2025 deadline just days away, the Dodgers are operating from a position of strength—but also urgency. Injuries have tested their depth all season long, and they’re still chasing the kind of postseason reliability that has eluded them in recent years.
If they can land both Steven Kwan and Shane Bieber, it would be a massive statement—one that says L.A. isn’t just preparing for October, but positioning itself to dominate it.