We are still nearly two months away from the July 31st MLB Trade Deadline, but as the date nears, we all know that the Los Angeles Dodgers will be buyers. The question is, how aggressive will they need to be?
If they can get fully healthy, specifically the pitching staff, they will not need to make any big splashes, as the roster has been built to go on a deep postseason run. Unfortunately, there is zero evidence that they will be able to stay healthy, or even get healthy for that matter, and so adding a reliable arm at the deadline may be fortuitous.
MLB Insider Jeff Passan just released his trade deadline preview for all 30 MLB teams, and he has the Dodgers reuniting with a fan favorite.
Los Angeles Dodgers Trade For Pitcher Walker Buehler?
Walker Buehler will forever be a Dodgers legend. His performance in the playoffs last season was the stuff of legends, and he recorded the final three outs that brought the World Series to Los Angeles.
Letting him walk was a tough decision for the organization, but they decided to go in a different direction with their pitching staff.
With this being said, could a reunion actually be possible?
According to Passan, it could. He writes:
“The notion that the Dodgers were going to win 120 games was always fanciful. They don’t build their team for regular-season wins. They want to put together the most devastating 26-man squad for the postseason. And they saw last year what Buehler turns into in October. The four shutout innings against the Mets. Five more against the Yankees. And then the final three outs to lock down the World Series title. Any sort of reunion would necessitate a Red Sox collapse, and as bad as they look right now, that’s premature.”
“Beyond that, the Dodgers’ farm system is so deep that they’ll have their pick of players at the deadline. But to bring in someone who knows their system, knows their culture, and knows how to show up in the biggest moments is a fit that’s almost too good to be true.”
While the potential of a deal happening depends on the Red Sox and if they are packing it in at the deadline, it will also depend on the health of the Dodgers’ pitching staff.
If they can get fully healthy, they really won’t have room for Buehler. Shohei Ohtani has started throwing to live hitters, and he is expected to make his pitching debut sooner rather than later.
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Dustin May has had an up-and-down season, and Buehler would probably be an upgrade over him, but you really do not need five starting pitchers once the playoffs start. However, with his dominance last October, it would be easy to find a way to use him.
So far this season, Buehler is 4-3 with a 4.44 ERA. He has 42 strikeouts and a 1.31 WHIP. The Red Sox are currently in 4th place in the AL East, but there is still plenty of season left.
What do you think, Dodgers Nation? Would you want to see a Walker Buehler reunion? Comment below!