As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers find themselves in a familiar position: battling through a wave of pitching injuries while clinging to optimism that internal reinforcements will return in time. Yet, in a somewhat surprising twist, Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has made it clear—he’s hoping to avoid the trade market altogether.
“I’m still optimistic,” Friedman said. “It requires guys coming back on or close to the timelines that we have penciled out. We have shown that, if we’re not in position to do that, we’ll be aggressive to add. But our strong desire is not to.”
Los Angeles Dodgers Tread Cautiously at Trade Deadline Despite Mounting Pitching Injuries
That cautious stance might seem puzzling given the Dodgers’ lengthy injured list, which includes Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Tony Gonsolin, Roki Sasaki, and more. Snell, a marquee offseason signing, has logged just two starts, while Glasnow has also been sidelined since April. But Friedman’s hesitation is rooted in both his faith in the current roster and his aversion to deadline overpays—especially when health returns are on the horizon.
In the past, the Dodgers have made splashy midseason moves—Yu Darvish, Max Scherzer, Jack Flaherty—but those trades have come at a cost. Last year, they dealt promising youngster Miguel Vargas for short-term help, only to watch him thrive with the White Sox in 2025.
Still, the pitching cupboard isn’t bare. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has been a rock in the rotation. Clayton Kershaw is rounding into form. Dustin May and Ben Casparius offer flexibility, and Shohei Ohtani and Emmet Sheehan are both progressing from elbow procedures. If Glasnow and Snell return on schedule, the rotation could stabilize without outside help.
Yet, setbacks remain possible, and the Dodgers know better than most how fragile a pitching staff can be in October. If a deal makes sense—without mortgaging the future—Friedman will pounce. Until then, the team is betting on its stars to heal and deliver.
For the Los Angeles Dodgers, the best trade deadline move might be no move at all.