MidValleySports.Com

By Those Deferred BenchWarmers

The Trade Deadline ended yesterday to mixed reviews from Dodger fans. On one hand, fans felt like the Dodgers were smart, keeping top prospects while still adding a quality arm and bat to help fill in the gaps of the current roster. The thought is the Dodgers made all the big moves in the offseason to avoid having to overpay at the trade deadline, so, as long as those stars play well, the Dodgers will be fine.

On the other hand, seeing several NL contenders add strong pieces made several people feel like the Dodgers didn’t do enough. We fall in the former group, as the pieces available weren’t necessarily going to make a big impact on any position, and the price to add better talent was going to be too steep.

Trade Deadline Recap 
The Dodgers seemingly won each trade, so an “A” grade isn’t crazy, but given their needs, their position in the NL, and what the teams around them did, a B grade is probably more reasonable. 

Here’s who the Dodgers added at the deadline:

Playoff Players
Both these players will see immediate playing time

RHP Brock Stewart: The former Dodger returns as flame-throwing, dominant reliever. His stats compare favorably to prized Padre Acquisition Mason Miller

Outfielder Alex Call: A plus defender and solid hitter, ESPN already has Call above Michael Conforto on the depth chart in LF.

September Callups?
Both these guys are candidates when rosters expand to 28 in September, although it’s far more likely they won’t make their Dodger debuts until 2026. 

RHP Paul Gervase: A 6’10” reliever who is averaging over 14 strikeouts per 9 innings in AAA.
C Ben Rortvedt: Similar to Hunter Feduccia, but with more Major League experience. 

For the Future
Whether as a Dodger or a trade piece, we’re at least a year away from hearing about these guys again.

LHP Adam Serwinowski: The Reds #10 prospect, some project him as the Dodgers’ #5 pitching prospect now.
OF James Tibbs III: He was the 13th pick in last year’s draft (FSU) and one of the main pieces in the Giants/Red Sox Rafael Devers trade earlier this season. In A ball and AA this season, Tibbs III is hitting .232 with an OPS of .763. 
OF Zach Ehrhard: A 4th round pick in 2024, Ehrhard did well in single A this season, .342 with a .930 OPS in 22 games. He was moved to AA, where he’s hit .227 in 58 games, with 8 home runs and 16 stolen bases

The Dodgers gave up a couple of familiar names in catcher Hunter Feduccia, outfielder James Outman, and pitcher Dustin May, but with the current additions and injury returns, all three had limited futures with the Dodgers. The Dodgers also gave up right handed pitchers Sean Paul Liñan and Eriq Swan (in the trade to get Call), two top 25 prospects in the Dodger organization. Both have had strong seasons so far, but both were likely a couple of years away from helping the Dodgers in any major capacity. 

The Week in Review
Recap: The Dodgers took 2 of 3 from the Reds, squandering a chance for a sweep in the eigth inning of game 3: Will Smith got a bad jump from second on a single that caused Dino Ebel to hold him at third,keeping the game deadlocked at 2. With the score still tied in the bottom of the eighth,  Andy Pages and now former Dodger James Outman both dropped fly balls that could have ended the inning with the score tied. Pages’ attempt should have been caught – he misread it and unnecessarily jumped, while Outman’s play had a higher degree of difficulty. One has to wonder: if Outman had made that catch, would he still have been traded? Probably yes, but still. 

Dodger Record Since We Said Not to Worry: 5-4

Next Series’ Preview
Matchups: The Dodgers head to Tampa Bay to take on the Rays, who are four games out of the last AL Wild Card spot. 

What to Look For: Blake Snell returns Saturday, and there’s a very good chance Call and Stewart make their first appearances since the trade.