Los Angeles Dodgers: Why a blockbuster trade won’t happen

2. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ big moves come during the trade deadline

The Los Angeles Dodgers are not strangers to massive trades, the team just knows when to time these trades to get the most out of what they are sending. Los Angeles had a chance to trade for Giancarlo Stanton last offseason and didn’t go through with it, which in hinsight, was probably smart.

Instead, the team waited until the July 31 Trade Deadline and got the biggest trade piece on the market, Manny Machado. And while some will tell you that the Dodgers gave up alot for Machado, the package that the team sent truly was a steal.

The season prior to that the team made the deadline acquisition of Yu Darvish. And while that hurt the team in the World Series, Darvish was widely considered the best pitcher on the market at that time, despite what someone might tell you about Justin Verlander.

If the Los Angeles Dodgers really need to add a star the team is going to run with its current group of guys and then reevaluate what the team needs in July. That way the team avoids adding a piece that it doesn’t need or that can potentially mess up locker room chemistry.

Plus, adding someone at the deadline often comes for a much cheaper price than in the offseason. While Realmuto and Kluber both have more years under contract, potentially picking them up in July does lower their trade value, although Realmuto definitely won’t last until July.