The Los Angeles Dodgers should focus their efforts on bullpen help at the trade deadline.
Both the rotation and the bullpen have been banged up for the Dodgers all season, but the former is rounding into shape quicker than the latter. With a half dozen impact relievers on the injured list, the Dodgers need some high-leverage help to stay on top of the National League standings.
Fortunately, relievers are usually the easiest thing to find at the trade deadline, and with two weeks to go to make some deals, the Dodgers should be able to find what they need.
One baseball writer thinks the Pittsburgh Pirates might have just the arm the Dodgers are looking for.
On Wednesday, Zach Lutz of Just Baseball identified Pirates closer David Bednar, a two-time All-Star who won't be a free agent until the end of the 2026 season, as a potential Dodgers trade target.
"Bednar has returned to elite form after a rough 2024, and while he’s not quite Duran, he’d give LA a proven, high-leverage closer with nasty stuff," Lutz wrote.
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"If the Dodgers walk away from the deadline without adding a true stopper, they’ll be taking a risk."
In 36 outings this season, Bednar has a 2.53 ERA, 13 saves, and 45 strikeouts in 32 innings. He's cut his walk rate from 10.7 percent to 6.9 percent between 2024 and 2025, and boosted his strikeout rate from 22.1 percent to 34.6 percent.
Those are all closer numbers, and even if Bednar were to take up a setup role in the LA bullpen, he'd be extremely valuable. The question is whether or not they're willing to meet the Pirates' price tag.
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