As the trade deadline quickly approaches, it has become increasingly clear the Los Angeles Dodgers need reinforcements to their bullpen.

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The Dodgers placed reliever Tanner Scott on the injured list with left elbow inflammation on Tuesday. Right-hander Alexis Diaz replaced Scott, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Dodgers in January, on the active roster.

The Dodgers’ aggressive pursuits of pitching talent last offseason seemed unnecessary. However, the defending champions find themselves once again in need of another bullpen arm.

As the Dodgers scour the market for a reliever, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal explains why right-handed pitcher Dustin May has emerged as a potential trade chip this summer.

“One way, according to sources briefed on the club’s thinking, might be to trade right-hander Dustin May, a potential free agent who could lose his spot in the rotation once left-hander Blake Snell comes off the injured list,” Rosenthal writes.

While the Dodgers may look to trade May at the deadline, his trade value remains uncertain as he’s currently sporting a 4.73 ERA with 92 strikeouts and a 1.364 WHIP this season. He’s also on an expiring contract.

Additionally, May ranks second on the team in innings pitched, which could prove to be useful with such an injury-ridden pitching staff.

The right-hander also showed he could serve the Dodgers as more than just a starter when he successfully piggybacked Shohei Ohtani on Monday as a bulk pitcher. May allowed no runs on five hits with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings of work against the Minnesota Twins.

Manager Dave Roberts said May serving as a bulk pitcher was a “one time thing,” but Rosenthal believes it could become a regular role for the right-hander.

Either way, it appears May could provide value for the Dodgers on the trade market as well as pitching in relief. At this point, it remains unclear which the Dodgers deem more important as October looms in the distance.

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Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

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