As the trade deadline approaches, the Los Angeles Dodgers face ongoing concerns with their pitching staff, frequently dealing with injuries to multiple pitchers on the injured list. Nevertheless, the team’s offense remains one of the strongest in Major League Baseball, making the Mookie Betts Dodgers trade deadline decisions particularly critical to their strategy moving forward.
The Dodgers hold the second-best OPS in the league, recorded at .797, trailing only the New York Yankees. Despite this success, reports from Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic suggest that the Dodgers are considering further improvements to their lineup, aiming to bolster their already potent offense while addressing other roster needs.
Evaluating Michael Conforto’s Contribution and Potential Changes
During the offseason, the Dodgers prioritized offensive firepower, acquiring Michael Conforto to strengthen the corner outfield spots alongside keeping Teoscar Hernández. Conforto signed a one-year contract worth $17 million with hopes of increasing his market value. However, his performance has been below expectations, with a .600 OPS ranking him eighth worst among qualified hitters in the league.
Even though Conforto managed to tie a recent game with a solo home run, his overall offensive production remains insufficient, raising questions about the team’s patience with him given limited alternatives.
Potential Outfield Alternatives and Lineup Flexibility
The Dodgers’ other outfield candidates include Teoscar Hernández, Andy Pages, and Tommy Edman, while Mookie Betts primarily plays the shortstop position. Additionally, Hyeseong Kim offers versatility by covering both middle infield and outfield positions, providing the team with some flexibility if adjustments become necessary.
While it is unclear whether a left field upgrade would bring a major improvement, Ardaya notes that the Dodgers have the opportunity to explore options if they decide to make a move before the trade deadline.
Dodgers’ Strategic Approach to the Trade Deadline
Offensively, the Dodgers appear stable, ranking second in the league in runs per game with 5.53. However, the front office remains watchful of the trade market, prepared to act as they did in the previous year when acquiring players like Tommy Edman, Kevin Kiermaier, and Amed Rosario, although Rosario was released shortly after.
“The Dodgers chose offense over defense this winter when acquiring Michael Conforto to go with re-signing Teoscar Hernández to align their corner outfield spots,”
—Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
“Except Conforto, who signed a one-year deal worth $17 million to juice up his value, hasn’t worked out. Even after Wednesday, when he tied the score with a solo home run in the fifth inning, Conforto has a .600 OPS. That’s the eighth worst in baseball among qualified hitters. As patient as the Dodgers have been with Conforto, it’s not as if they’re overflowing with options should they move off him.”
—Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
“The Dodgers’ offensive needs aren’t dire. They entered Wednesday ranked second in baseball in scoring 5.53 runs per game. But they’ll monitor the market, just as they did a year ago in acquiring Edman, Kevin Kiermaier and Amed Rosario at the deadline (Rosario lasted just a week before being cut).”
—Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic
What the Future Holds for the Dodgers’ Roster Decisions
As the trade deadline nears, the Dodgers must weigh the underperformance of Michael Conforto against their offensive strengths and roster depth, particularly with Mookie Betts’s role in the infield. While pitching remains the more pressing concern, the Dodgers’ decisions on these key players will influence their ability to remain competitive in a tight playoff race, potentially setting the tone for their postseason strategy in 2025.