The non-waivers trade deadline is tomorrow at 1 p.m. PDT.
And what should the Los Angeles Dodgers, frustrated since 1988 in their attempts to get back to the World Series, do ahead of the deadline?
Nothing.
Well, they could tinker around the edges of the club, if they see some left-handed hitter who could help them off the bench. Maybe even a middle reliever.
But a prominent starting pitcher?
No, no, no.
Not Yu Darvish. Not Sonny Gray. Not Ervin Santana or Jason Vargas or Lance Lynn.
The Dodgers should stand pat, for several good reasons.
–It appears Clayton Kershaw’s injury is less scary than anticipated. He already is throwing in the outfield, and doctors’ orders at the start of last week were for Kershaw to avoid throwing until he had no symptoms of the back pain that led to suggestions he would be out two to four weeks. If he is throwing, his back does not hurt, right?
And if Kershaw comes back in a couple of weeks, the Dodgers will have pretty much the starting five that got them to where they are now — 74-31 and 14 games ahead in the National League West.
–Brandon McCarthy, who has a blister issue, also is not far from being ready.
–Adding starting pitchers at the deadline often doesn’t seem to work out. If anything, we have recent examples of individual pitchers (Madison Bumgarner, Corey Kluber) being enough (or nearly so) to carry a team to the World Series.
–To get a pitcher as prominent as one of those mentioned above, the Dodgers will have to give up a top prospect or a package of top prospects that might include right-hander Walker Buehler and outfielder Alex Verdugo, both ranked “top 35” prospects by Baseball America. The team the Dodgers are putting on the field is heavily dependent on young guys they did not trade to get Johnny Cueto or David Price. Players like Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger and Joc Pederson.
I will be perfectly happy if the Dodgers do nothing, ahead of the trade deadline. Remember: 74-31.
If they feel a need to get a journeyman to take the ball every fifth day (instead of Brock Stewart) in the near term, well go ahead — as long as no top prospects are surrendered.
I will be particularly happy if they avoid paying for one of the prominent SPs. Even without Kershaw they have Alex Wood, Rich Hill and two guys who seem to have sorted out their issues — Kenta Maeda and Hyun-jin Ryu.
I like the team they have right now. The one that is 74-31.
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