The Dodgers did nothing drastic at the deadline
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter play Monday with a five-game lead in the National League West over the San Diego Padres. The team has the best record in baseball at 26-10 and could only get better at the trade deadline.
That is not what happened as the Dodgers stood pat Monday afternoon. The only move was to trade Ross Stripling to the Toronto Blue Jays. So are the Dodgers still prime World Series contenders?
Dodgers already stacked with talent
The Dodgers have been one of the better teams in baseball over the past decade. The team has won the division every year since 2013 and that streak should continue this year. The problem has been finishing in the postseason, but October baseball is also a bit up for grabs.
Landing Mookie Betts in the offseason outweighs any move the Dodgers could have made at the deadline. And don’t forget the team also has the reigning NL MVP in Cody Bellinger in the lineup as well.
The one aspect of the team that could have been improved was adding one more starting pitcher. Lance Lynn’s name showed up in rumors but the general consensus was that the price tag was far too high.
The trade of Stripling leaves the team with a rotation of Dustin May, Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urias, and Tony Gonsolin. Walker Buehler is the fifth in the equation when he returns from the injured list after being sent there with a blister.
Dominating in the regular season has not led to a World Series title for the Dodgers in recent history. However, the team is so stacked it likely led the front office to a decision of not parting with more top prospects after the Betts deal this past offseason.
The 2020 postseason will have more of a tournament feel and the Dodgers will once again enter as top contenders. Dave Roberts has been given top talent and it will be up to him to manage it correctly in October after some questionable decisions in the past.