The Los Angeles Dodgers are in a fairly luxurious position heading into trade deadline season.
Even though they've been ravaged by injuries again this season, the Dodgers' current healthy roster can beat anybody on a good day. They've also got big names slated to come back this season, ranging from Max Muncy to Blake Snell to Blake Treinen.
Still, the Dodgers can be expected to make big moves at the deadline, because they're the hyper-competitive Dodgers and they want back-to-back World Series rings. And their bullpen, which has been their least impressive feature this year, might be the area to target.
One baseball writer thinks the Dodgers can and should swing for the fences in terms of bullpen trade candidates.
On Monday, Zachary Rotman of FanSided proposed Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran as the best prospective trade target for the Dodgers ahead of the Jul. 31 deadline.
"If Duran is available, there will presumably be a bidding war between several contenders for his services. It won't come cheap, but it'd still be worthwhile. Duran is under contract through the 2027 campaign and is having a fantastic season," Rotman wrote.
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"Given the strength of their farm system, there's no reason to believe the Dodgers can't acquire Duran if he's available. He'd be a great fit and should dominate in Los Angeles for at least the next couple of years."
In 43 1/3 innings, Duran has struck out 49 batters and pitched to a sterling 1.66 ERA. The 27-year-old is 73-for-82 in save opportunities throughout his career, and his raw stuff still stacks up favorably against anybody.
Much like many of the top trade candidates this year, Duran plays for a team that hasn't committed to waving the white flag. That's going to make this one interesting to follow, because there's no guarantee he'll be traded, much less to the Dodgers.
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