It’s only fair to suggest that the Los Angeles Dodgers will need pitching at the deadline.
Even if the idea is to bring in a starter or two to eat innings, the Dodgers are in a very strange position on the mound and have suffered because of it at times.
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After losing 11-1 to the Athletics on Tuesday night, the Dodgers saw why they can’t continue to rely on below-average starters and bullpen games to win at the highest level.
Looking at potential trade candidates, Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller listed Seth Lugo as an option, and he’d make perfect sense for the Dodgers if he becomes available.
While it isn’t a guarantee that Lugo will be available, as the Kansas City Royals have played decent baseball to start the year, the veteran would be exactly what the Dodgers have targeted.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) looks on against the Texas Rangers during the third inning at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
“Such trades do occasionally happen. But whether this one would even be on the table hinges on where the Royals are at in the standings 12 weeks from now.
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“After getting off to an 8-14 start, Kansas City has catapulted back into the playoff picture with 11 wins in its past 13 games. Still, Seth Lugo could be a hot commodity if the Royals were to fall back out of the conversation—which isn’t exactly a stretch, given the state of this offense beyond Bobby Witt Jr,” he wrote.
More importantly than anything else, when it comes to the right-hander, he’s shown the ability to stay on the mound.
Since becoming a full-time starter during the 2023 campaign, Lugo has thrown in at least 146.1 innings. He faced the most batters in baseball last season with 836, and struck out 181 hitters in 206.2 innings.
The Louisiana native could be a free agent at the end of the year, given that he has a player option, so this could be a rental.
If the move is to simply try to win a World Series right now, which it is, the Dodgers make a lot of sense as a landing spot.
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