Dodgers: Most Under Pressure to Make Moves at Trade Deadline
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten to back to back World Series but are trying to win it in 2019 but there is still one glaring hole.
The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t won a World Series since 1988 when Kirk Gibson decided to hit a Dennis Eckersley slider into the right-field stands at Dodger Stadium while injured.
Los Angeles has appeared in the Fall Classic two season in a row, but haven’t gotten over the hump and that is because of the bullpen.
Well, the club faces that same glaring hole this year and things seem very similar to each of the last two seasons.
They had great records in each of the last two seasons but was faced with the decision of whether or not to acquire bullpen help.
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This year though the Dodgers are under the most pressure to make a move before the Trade Deadline.
You could make the case for it being even more important for them to make a move because there is only one deadline.
There is no August Non-Waiver Trade Deadline for them to acquire a reliever this year to help propel them to another championship.
Kenley Jansen hasn’t ever gotten back to being that lockdown closer he was back in 2016 and 2017.
He isn’t comfortable pitching with runners in scoring position, especially fast runners (guys like Jackie Bradley Jr.).
Joe Kelly has not matched the performance he had last season in the postseason.
I would not bet on Pedro Baez, Dylan Floro, and Julio Urias to give them solid innings consistently deep into October.
Baez has proven he can’t pitch in big spots consistently including Sunday night when he gave up back to back home runs on back to back pitches in the bottom of the 8th inning at Fenway Park.
The Dodgers do have options in the trade market. The Giants are definitely going to trade All-Star closer Will Smith for some prospects.
The Cleveland Indians are unlikely to win the division so they have All-Star Brad Hand to dish and he is controlled for the 2020 season.
They also have the farm system to go get Felipe Vasquez from Pittsburgh although the Pirates have said that they want him to be their closer in the future.
When you look around the league, the contenders all have something in common: a great bullpen.
The Chicago Cubs have Pedro Strop and the recently acquired Craig Kimbrel closing out games at Wrigley Field.
Houston has great 8th and 9th inning relievers in Ryan Pressly and Roberto Osuna.
The National League Wild Card contending Padres even have Craig Stammen and the best closer in baseball, Kirby Yates, at the end of games in San Diego.
The Yankees obviously have the best bullpen in the league with Aroldis Chapman and Zach Britton as the headliners.
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In my opinion, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the only postseason-bound team (except the Braves) that doesn’t have a great bullpen so it is paramount that President Andrew Friedman goes out and gets some arms to get them over the hump and win a championship.