Several teams sought to acquire right-handed pitcher Gavin Stone from the Dodgers during offseason trade discussions, as reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today. However, Los Angeles resisted trading the former top prospect and is now enjoying the rewards. After allowing 31 runs in his initial 31 innings in the major leagues last season, Stone has become a crucial part of manager Dave Roberts’ rotation.
At 25 years old, Stone ranks second on the Dodgers with 89 innings pitched and is tied for second with 15 games started. He has maintained an impressive 2.73 ERA through the season’s midpoint. While his 19.5% strikeout rate is below average, and his .268 average on balls in play and 6.3% homer-to-flyball ratio indicate potential ERA regression, he appears to be a reliable big league starter. The 2020 fifth-round pick has been a consistent presence in the L.A. rotation amidst injuries to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Walker Buehler, and others.
The Dodgers are dealing with six starters on the injured list, excluding often-injured players like James Paxton and Tyler Glasnow, who are currently healthy and part of the rotation. Glasnow, notably, is just 17 innings shy of his career-high MLB innings (120) and has never exceeded 155 innings in any professional season.
Due to the numerous injuries and the fragile health of their current pitchers, the Dodgers have been exploring the pitching market. Nightengale noted that the Dodgers made an offer to the White Sox for left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet, which was rejected. Additionally, Ken Rosenthal, Patrick Mooney, and Will Sammon of The Athletic reported on Los Angeles’ interest in Crochet.
Crochet isn’t the perfect fit for a team needing consistent, reliable innings, like the Dodgers currently do. The 2020 draftee has pitched 101 1/3 innings this year, more than he had thrown in his entire professional career before the 2024 season. Concerns exist about his durability for the rest of the season, and The Athletic trio suggests he might not remain in a regular rotation role if traded, especially since the White Sox are reportedly planning to move him after extension talks stalled. Nevertheless, the Dodgers see Crochet as a valuable asset for October, regardless of his role, and plan to decide his usage later in the season.
In addition to addressing rotation innings, the Dodgers face multiple questions as the trade deadline approaches. They are also managing the six-to-eight-week absence of star leadoff hitter Mookie Betts, who has played various infield and outfield positions without compromising his MVP-level offensive output. With Betts sidelined, the Dodgers have returned Miguel Rojas to a regular shortstop role, and his performance this season might solidify this position even when Betts returns.
Manager Dave Roberts, when asked by Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times about keeping Rojas as the everyday shortstop upon Betts’ return, said, “I would, I would. I don’t think anyone can debate the level of shortstop play from Miguel Rojas. Some of it is contingent on Mookie’s return timeline and Miggy’s physical condition and performance. But to your question, would I consider it? Absolutely.”
Rojas, 35, is hitting .297/.344/.446 (126 wRC+), marking his best production since the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. He continues to deliver high-end defense at shortstop, earning high praise from both Roberts and Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel, who ranks Rojas among the top five defensive shortstops in the sport. Statcast supports this with Rojas tied for seventh among shortstops in Outs Above Average despite playing significantly fewer innings than his peers.
Keeping Rojas at shortstop and moving Betts to second base in place of Gavin Lux could strengthen the lineup and defense. The Athletic suggests that acquiring an everyday outfielder would allow Betts to play second base, enabling a platoon of Andy Pages and Jason Heyward in the outfield alongside the new acquisition and Teoscar Hernandez.
This is one of many potential scenarios and not a definitive plan. Alternatively, if the Dodgers acquire a second baseman better than in-house options like Lux, Chris Taylor, and Enrique Hernandez, Betts could remain in the outfield.
The Dodgers’ versatile defenders and substantial division lead reduce the urgency to make immediate trades. Holding a 7.5-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres in the NL West, the Dodgers have the luxury of taking a flexible approach to improving their already first-place roster. This lead likely eases the pressure on President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman, GM Brandon Gomes, and their team to finalize deals quickly, allowing them to explore various options without haste.
