The Los Angeles Dodgers once again enter the MLB trade deadline as legitimate World Series contenders, but even one of baseball’s deepest rosters has glaring weaknesses. Injuries, inconsistent bullpen performances, and uncertainty behind the plate have exposed areas that president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman may look to address before the postseason.
Los Angeles still possesses one of the National League’s most dangerous lineups, yet October baseball often comes down to pitching depth and late-inning execution. With Tanner Scott struggling to lock down the ninth inning, Will Smith dealing with health concerns, and the team facing questions beyond its frontline arms, the Dodgers are expected to remain one of the most aggressive buyers on the market.
Several high-profile names continue to be connected to Los Angeles, including veteran closer Aroldis Chapman, Athletics catcher Jonah Heim, and Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. While none would come cheaply, each could fill a critical need as the Dodgers pursue another championship.
The Dodgers believed Tanner Scott would stabilize the back end of the bullpen when they acquired the left-hander, but the results have been inconsistent throughout much of the season.
Scott continues to possess elite velocity and swing-and-miss stuff, yet command issues and untimely blown saves have left manager Dave Roberts searching for more reliable late-game options. The Dodgers have experimented with multiple relievers in high-leverage situations, but the ninth inning has remained unsettled.
That uncertainty makes Aroldis Chapman one of the most intriguing trade candidates available.
Even in the later stages of his career, Chapman still throws one of the hardest fastballs in baseball while generating strikeouts at an elite rate. The veteran’s postseason experience is another major advantage for a Dodgers club expecting to play deep into October.
Chapman has pitched in numerous playoff races and understands the pressure that comes with closing meaningful games. Pairing him with Scott would also allow Roberts greater flexibility. Rather than forcing Scott into the closer’s role every night, the Dodgers could deploy both left-handers based on matchups.
The organization also remains uncertain regarding Edwin Díaz’s availability. While Díaz has resumed baseball activities and is on a rehab assignment, his usage could be up in the air once he returns to the Dodgers. Furthermore, the closer has been less than stellar for the Dodgers so far in 2026, which could leave the door open for an arm like Chapman to take over the closer role for the remainder of the season.
Adding Chapman would instantly deepen one of baseball’s strongest bullpens while providing the proven ninth-inning presence Los Angeles has lacked during stretches of the season.
Another position quietly becoming a priority is catcher.
Will Smith remains one of baseball’s premier offensive catchers, but injuries have limited his availability. The Dodgers have carefully managed his workload, and there is still uncertainty regarding exactly when he will be fully healthy enough to handle everyday duties entering the postseason.
Without Smith at full strength, Los Angeles has leaned heavily on rookie Dalton Rushing.
Rushing has shown why he ranks among the organization’s top prospects, displaying impressive offensive potential and athleticism behind the plate. However, asking a rookie catcher to handle a championship-caliber pitching staff throughout October presents a significant challenge.
Postseason baseball demands elite game-calling, pitcher management, defensive consistency, and experience navigating high-pressure situations. Those are responsibilities that typically come only after years in the major leagues.
That is where Jonah Heim becomes an attractive trade target.
The Athletics catcher has established himself as one of the American League’s better defensive backstops while also providing switch-hitting versatility. Heim excels at framing pitches, controlling the running game, and building relationships with pitchers—qualities that become invaluable during playoff series.
Unlike many backup catchers, Heim has already demonstrated he can contribute offensively while handling everyday responsibilities if necessary.
Heim’s addition would allow the Dodgers to ease Smith back into action without sacrificing defensive stability while giving Roberts another trusted veteran behind the plate if injuries continue to linger.
The acquisition would also reduce the pressure on Rushing, allowing the young catcher to continue developing rather than carrying significant postseason expectations during his first major league campaign.
No potential trade target generates more excitement than Tarik Skubal.
The Detroit Tigers ace continues to be mentioned in trade speculation despite Detroit’s reluctance to move one of baseball’s premier starting pitchers.
Skubal has developed into one of the game’s most dominant left-handers thanks to elite velocity, exceptional command, and the ability to miss bats consistently. He has proven capable of shutting down even the league’s best offenses while pitching deep into games.
For the Dodgers, adding Skubal would create arguably the strongest playoff rotation in baseball.
A postseason staff featuring Skubal alongside the Dodgers’ established frontline starters would give Los Angeles multiple legitimate Game 1-caliber pitchers capable of taking over a playoff series.
Depth also remains a concern.
The Dodgers have dealt with injuries throughout the rotation in recent seasons, often forcing inexperienced pitchers into meaningful October innings. While the organization has done an outstanding job developing internal talent, acquiring another ace would reduce the workload on younger arms while providing valuable insurance should additional injuries occur.
The obstacle, of course, is the asking price.
Detroit would almost certainly demand multiple elite prospects and young major league talent in return. The Dodgers possess one of baseball’s deepest farm systems, but even Friedman has historically been cautious about moving the organization’s top prospects unless the return is truly transformational.
If the Tigers remain in postseason contention, Skubal may never become available at all.
However, if Detroit shifts toward selling, the Dodgers are almost certain to be among the first teams making serious inquiries.
The Dodgers have few obvious weaknesses, but championship teams often separate themselves by addressing small flaws before October arrives.
Aroldis Chapman could solidify the bullpen and finally provide a dependable late-inning closer. Jonah Heim would offer veteran stability behind the plate while allowing Will Smith to return at a measured pace and easing the burden on rookie Dalton Rushing. Meanwhile, Tarik Skubal represents the ultimate blockbuster target capable of transforming an already talented rotation into baseball’s most intimidating postseason staff.
Whether Los Angeles lands one, two, or none of these players remains to be seen. What is certain is that the Dodgers rarely stand still at the trade deadline. With another World Series firmly in their sights, expect Andrew Friedman to aggressively explore every opportunity to strengthen a roster built to compete for another championship.
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