5 moves the Dodgers should make at the MLB trade deadline

With the MLB trade deadline just around the corner, here are five moves that the Los Angeles Dodgers need to consider.

The Los Angeles Dodgers lead the National League West as we head towards the final two months of the regular season.

By no means are they even close to a lock to make the playoffs, though.

The Dodgers just a one-game lead over the second-place San Fransisco Giants. If the team wants to solidify their status as a legitimate contender, there are moves to be made. Primarily regarding the pitching staff.

Adding another reliable arm to the front of the rotation is a must. The Dodgers have two aces that are among the best in baseball in Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. Aside from that, however, their starting pitching has been an utter disaster.

Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu have already been lost for the season with injuries. Last week, Brett Anderson joined his teammates on the injured list with an irritated left Achilles tendon.

While the fact that there is no tear rings positivity, as well as that he will be returning this week, it still remains uncertain if Anderson will be able to get back to the same form he was at before the injury. If he does not return to full strength, this could be a big loss for the Dodgers, considering that the lefty had emerged as possibly the most reliable option behind Greinke and Kershaw.

In addition, a heavy workload incurred by the injury-prone starting rotation is beginning to take a significant toll on the bullpen.

The Dodgers are on the verge of being a serious contender, have a deep farm system and are willing to spend whatever it take to get this team to the next level, making them a major player at the 2015 MLB trade deadline.

Here are five moves that the Dodgers should consider before July 31st rolls around.

Next: Aquire David Price from the Tigers