The Los Angeles Dodgers have surged back near the top of the MLB standings and as the wins pile up, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has reportedly turned his focus to specific targets at the MLB trade deadline.
Los Angeles has dealt with its share of injuries this season and depth has become a greater issue. For a team with a history of using platoons and having one of the best rosters in the majors, adding more talent this summer is necessary to compete for the World Series.
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The Dodgers have already been connected to several starting pitchers and relievers in the latest MLB trade rumors. Now, it appears Los Angeles is also in the mix for a few specific outfielders from the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.
- Tommy Pham stats (2023): .272/.356/.475, .831 OPS, 35 RBI in 217 at-bats
According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, the Dodgers are looking for a right-handed bat at the trade deadline. Among the number of players available, Los Angeles is targeting Mark Canha, Kike Hernandez and Tommy Pham.
With the Red Sox surging and putting themselves back in the mix for a Wild Card spot, a Hernandez trade becomes more unlikely. However, the Dodgers’ organization is extremely familiar with the veteran.
Hernandez, age 31, played in Los Angeles from 2016-’20. He posted a .240/.312/.425 slash line with a respectable .718 OPS. More importantly, he’s productive against left-handed pitchers (.811 OPS) and offers the positional versatility to play second base, shortstop and all three outfield spots.
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- Mark Canha stats (2023): .242/.339/.386, .725 OPS, 28 RBI in 236 at-bats
A trade with New York is more viable. Canha is owed the remaining portion of his $10.5 million base salary this season and there’s a $2 million buyout on his $12.166 million club option for next season. The 34-year-old would provide another right-handed bench for Los Angeles.
Pham, a free agent this winter, would be relatively cheap to acquire as a half-season rental. He’s drawn a walk in 11.6 percent of his plate appearances this season and posted a stellar 130 wRC+. This season, he has a .889 OPS against southpaws and a .795 OPS versus righties.