Los Angeles Dodgers: Trade Deadline moves and non-moves

The Los Angeles Dodgers had 70 wins going into the summer trade deadline and despite having the best record in baseball, there were flaws starting to surface.

The Los Angeles Dodgers did make moves, but not the significant moves fans were probably hoping for and it remains to be seen if they addressed their most pressing need.

On the news front, the Dodgers traded with the St. Louis Cardinals, acquiring utility infielder Jedd Gyorko for relief pitchers Tony Cingrani and Jeffry Abreu.

The other trade the Dodgers made was with the Tampa Bay Rays, acquiring left-handed reliever Adam Kolarek for minor league outfielder Niko Hulsizer.

A trade of minor league catcher Rocky Gale only netted cash considerations meaning the Dodgers additions constituted just the two moves mentioned.

Ultimately, the Dodgers netted no high profile trade pieces balking at trading for closer Felipe Vazquez of the Pittsburgh Pirates. With speculation that the Pirates wanted prized prospects Gavin Lux and Dustin May, it is likely Dodgers President of Baseball Ops Andrew Friedman refused to part with them.

The Dodgers supposed plan B was Detroit Tigers reliever Shane Greene, who was dealt to the Atlanta Braves, leaving the Dodgers with the moves they made.

Overall, the only conclusion one can make is that Friedman prefers the Dodgers internal options over trading away prized prospects. That kind of assessment is going to have both detractors and supporters.

If the Dodgers win the World Series, Friedman will be praised for having the acumen to hold onto top prospects while coming away with the ultimate title.

If the Dodgers don’t win a World Series having recorded one of their best records in franchise history, staying put at the trade deadline is going to hang over Friedman’s head for a long time.

With the August trade-waiver deadline done away with there will be no outside help coming from the Dodgers after today. That leaves very little margin of error for the Dodgers when October comes around.

With few options, Kularek has to be able to get left-handers out, Joe Kelly must continue to improve after an atrocious start and with no closer coming to put heat on Kenley Jansen, his struggles must dissipate for the Dodgers to reverse what has happened these last two late Octobers.

Those are a lot of questions that Friedman is asking his team to address, and that could have been addressed at the deadline. For now, Dodgers fans can only wait and hope that Friedman has finally gotten the right formula for World Series success.