Dodgers Aim High as July Trade Deadline Approaches

LOS ANGELES, CA — Andrew Friedman, the president of baseball operations for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is focused on maintaining a strong team without major trades as the July deadline approaches. The Dodgers, currently in first place in the National League West, are looking to build on their recent success.

Friedman expressed his desire to avoid ‘buying in July’ during an address last December. He stated, “It’s been our goal the last three or four years not to buy in July. It hasn’t necessarily played out according to plan.” As the team heads into July, they are leading their division by 3½ games over the San Francisco Giants and 5 games over the San Diego Padres.

Despite some injury concerns and challenges in performance from specific players, the Dodgers have been impressively productive, leading the majors in runs, home runs, and OPS. Friedman mentioned the importance of being cautious with trades, given the high cost in prospects during the mid-season.

The Dodgers have recently seen an uptick in offensive performance, except for left fielder Michael Conforto, who is struggling at the plate with a .168 batting average. Friedman indicated, “I would bet that his next two months are way better than his last two months.”

On the pitching side, the Dodgers are eagerly anticipating the return of Shohei Ohtani, who is set to make his first start since undergoing elbow surgery 21 months ago. Manager Dave Roberts described the excitement around Ohtani, stating, “There’s been a lot of anticipation.” Ohtani has been a key player since joining the Dodgers on a ten-year, $700 million contract.

The team has faced significant pitching injuries, with key players like Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow currently on the injured list. Despite these challenges, the Dodgers are strategizing to continue their winning ways without depleting their farm system for trades.

As July looms and the pressure mounts to bolster the roster, Friedman remains optimistic, stating, “I’m still optimistic. It requires guys coming back on or close to the timelines that we have penciled out.” The Dodgers continue to pursue their ultimate goal: winning the World Series.