2025 Dodgers Trade Deadline Targets: Position Players

The trade deadline is quickly approaching, giving the Dodgers until 3 p.m. PT on July 31 to add reinforcements to this team. They’ll likely grab at least one reliever and one position player, but this will focus just on the latter.

Friedman and Gomes can always make unexpected moves, but for the sake of the exercise I’m going to primarily look at outfielders with just two exceptions. Max Muncy is slated to return soon, and once Kiké Hernández returns, the infield will have more versatile utility type players than likely any team in the league. Muncy, Kiké, Miguel Rojas and Tommy Edman can all play the hot corner. Hyeseong Kim, Rojas, and Edman can all play shortstop and second base, while Kiké already has three Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) at second. It’s been mentioned as of late that Kim has been playing through a shoulder injury, it’s unclear if Edman has fully recovered from his ankle injuries, and Rojas is 36 years-old coming off a sports hernia surgery in the offseason. Getting those guys some time off should help them significantly.

Additionally, even if Muncy continues where he left off, he had a .926 OPS against right-handed pitchers, compared to a .507 mark against lefties. While it’s unlikely he remains that poor against left-handed pitching, it’s been a trend that is worthy of platooning, at least in particularly difficult matchups. Kim has a .389 batting average against LHP in 17 plate appearances, but also has seven strikeouts with no walks. In an ideal world, it’s preferable if his exposure to lefties is limited.

Additionally, Michael Conforto hasn’t performed as well as anyone would’ve liked or projected, and while his fielding isn’t atrocious at -3 DRS and -4 Outs Above Average (OAA), his value comes from the bat. The issue there is that the bat has been borderline nonexistent until recently. I believe he’s shown enough as of late to warrant further inclusion on the roster, but his defensive ability limits the upside of his presence. Teoscar Hernández hasn’t been sharp since returning from injury, but it’s likely his bat comes around. His primary issue is that his defense in right field has been anywhere from terrible to abysmal. His -9 OAA has him as the second worst defensive outfielder in baseball, just trailing Nick Castellanos at -10. Andy Pages has taken to center field quite well considering he’s still learning it on the fly, but every now and then looks … as if he’s been learning it on the fly. Whether or not they feel comfortable having him in center field in a big playoff game is beyond my scope, but he definitely is most comfortable in right field where he grades out as elite.

There’s a lot of versatility already on the roster, and the key contributors will need to come around, but there is still room for one more bat in place of James Outman and Esteury Ruiz, while Conforto’s future is undetermined.

All that being said, let’s look at some options.

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Those two aforementioned exceptions to strictly outfield additions are versatile everyday players, Willi Castro and Brendan Donovan.

IF/OF Willi Castro, Twins

Castro is a 28 year-old switch-hitting utility player, but will hit free agency after the year, making him a very desirable addition to any contender for his versatility, and likely relatively affordable cost. By wRC+ (116) and OPS (.765) he’s having the best offensive season of his career, and in addition to his two above-average years prior, there will always be room for a player of his caliber. He’s been excellent against left-handed pitching with an .836 OPS and 131 wRC+ against them, but each of the last two years his splits were the opposite. His .739 OPS and 111 wRC+ against RHP this year are both above-average, while his 11.6% walk rate would trail just Will Smith (14.9%), providing some much needed at-bat quality throughout the lineup.

He’s split time nearly equally this year between the infield and outfield, predominantly at second base and in both corner outfield positions. He’s also comfortable at third base, and can play shortstop and center field in a pinch. His outfield play has been slightly better this year than last, with -1 DRS and 1 OAA, compared to -6 DRS and -6 OAA last season. His infield defense has seemingly taken a step back, with -3 DRS and -1 OAA at second base and -1 DRS and -4 OAA at third base, despite being roughly average at both in 2024. Defensive metrics can be noisy, as he posted 3 OAA in 51 games at shortstop last year in Carlos Correa‘s absence. Defensively, he grades out likely as average in both corners and all infield positions.

Long story short, he’s a rental, can play average defense nearly everywhere, and is a switch-hitter that can adequately get on-base and provide value in a multitude of ways. Against left-handed pitching he could cover for any of Muncy, Kim, Conforto, or even Edman.

IF/OF Brendan Donovan, Cardinals

Donovan is a 28 year-old left-handed utility player that has two years of control after the 2025 season. He won the Gold Glove as a utility player his rookie year in 2022, and has performed well all across the diamond ever since. He is coming off his first All-Star nomination, with a .779 OPS and 121 wRC+ thus far. He’s been one of the most consistent players in the league since his debut, with a career .774 OPS and 120 wRC+, posting very similar numbers year in and year out.

Unlike most other players that will be mentioned here, he has an elite tool. He rarely chases, and whiffs even less – especially in the strike zone. His in-zone contact rate of 93.3% is the seventh best mark in the entire league, meaning he makes contact when swinging at pitches inside the strike zone 93.3% of the time. He chases outside of the zone just 25.1% of the time, a rare trait for guys with such good control of the zone. Among those six players that rank higher than him with their in-zone contact rate, only Steven Kwan (22.6%) chases less frequently than Donovan.

He’s in the 96th percentile in whiff-rate, and has been in the 92nd percentile or better, every year he’s been in the majors. Most of the guys near him in whiff-rate and zone-contact rate give up nearly all their power in order to have a more contact oriented approach, while Donovan still puts up nearly an average barrel rate and a respectable hard-hit rate in addition to his plate control.

He played the majority of his games last season at second base with left field being his secondary position, while the inverse has been the case thus far. Like Castro, he’s more or less average everywhere defensively, and can play third base and shortstop if need be. He has crushed right-handed pitching this year, with a 145 wRC+ and an .867 OPS, improving upon career marks of a 130 wRC+ and an .813 OPS. Naturally, that means he’s been weaker against lefties, but he’s still been playable with a .654 OPS and 89 wRC+ against southpaws.

If he’s dealt, it’ll be for a handsome return and unfortunately it seems more likely to happen in the offseason once Chaim Bloom officially takes over as the Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations.

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The next category, more briefly, are two players that are very unlikely to be attainable.

LF Steven Kwan, Guardians & LF/CF Jarren Duran, Red Sox

Kwan is a 27 year-old left-handed, contact oriented, three time Gold Glove award winning left fielder for the Guardians under contract for two more years after 2025. He’s a stud in left field and would be a huge offensive and defensive upgrade over Michael Conforto. The issue is that I see no reason for Cleveland to move him at the moment. Their outfield has amassed 0.4 fWAR this season, ahead of only the Phillies (0.1), and the Royals (-2.4). Kwan has been worth 2.7 fWAR, so the remainder of the Cleveland outfield has combined for -2.3. The Guardians are currently 52-53 and are just 3.5 games out of a Wild Card spot at the moment. They were just in the ALCS and should be getting Shane Bieber back shortly. They’d have to be really wowed to move Kwan, a fan favorite.

Duran is another left-handed hitting outfielder, coming with a dynamic skill set, despite some regression this season. The 28 year-old has three years of control after 2025, allowing a team to lock him into an outfield position for the foreseeable future. He played a great center field last year, accruing 17 Defensive Runs Saved and 7 Outs Above Average, but has seen those metrics drop off with his transition to left field. The Red Sox have the 26 year-old Gold Glove winner Wilyer Abreu in right field, Ceddanne Rafaela and his defensive prowess in center field, and the top prospect in baseball, Roman Anthony, ready to play left field. It makes some sense for Boston to move Duran, but they’ll demand a huge return for him as he posted 6.8 fWAR and 8.7 bWAR last year, despite some minor regression this year. Even if they move Duran, it feels like a lot of moving parts for Boston to figure out during the season. Seems like another offseason move if it does happen.

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Next are two helpful if not flashy additions, and once again, Luis Robert Jr.

LF/CF Harrison Bader, Twins

Bader is a 31 year-old right-handed outfielder, with extreme athleticism and defense in the outfield. He’s having a fantastic year with the bat, as his .777 OPS and 118 wRC+ are his best marks since 2021. He’s been equally solid against both lefties and righties this year, but even if he regresses back to his career norms, he has a career .775 OPS and 110 wRC+ against left-handed pitching, compared to a .679 OPS and an 87 wRC+ against RHP. He’s never been known for his bat, with a career .705 OPS and 93 wRC+, but has put up 14.7 fWAR in his career, predominantly due to his defense. He’s racked up 60 Defensive Runs Saved and 76 Outs Above Average in his career, with 10 DRS and 5 OAA this year, primarily in left field. Since his rookie year in 2017, he’s been a center fielder up until this year where he’s moved to left field in favor of Byron Buxton, Minnesota’s franchise center fielder.

This wouldn’t be the most exciting pickup, but he’d bring a significant strength to alleviate what has clearly been a glaring weakness for the Dodgers, the outfield defense. At the very least, he could play elite defense in left field and start over Conforto against left-handed pitching. He could additionally play everyday in center field, with Teoscar Hernández shifting to left field and Andy Pages going to his natural position, right field. If you’re looking for a significant defensive upgrade, acquiring Bader and slotting Pages into right field turns a below-average outfield defense into one with two elite defenders and a poor one that will be better hid in left field.

It’s not the type of deal that makes you reevaluate a contender’s potential, but he brings great defense and speed at a relatively affordable cost and would vastly improve the outfield defense.

LF/RF Ramon Laureano, Orioles

Laureano just turned 31 years-old, and is a right-handed corner outfielder with a club-option for $6.5m for the 2026 season. He’s having a career year with Baltimore, as his 135 wRC+ and .852 OPS are similar to that of the best outfielders in baseball. He’s chasing at a career low rate, and pulling the ball (specifically in the air) at a career high rate, resulting in the best offensive season of his career. He has a .911 OPS and 152 wRC+ against right-handed pitching this year, compared to a .726 OPS and 98 wRC+ against left-handed pitching.

Historically he’s been an above-average outfielder, but the metrics are a bit perplexed by his performance this year, with 7 Defensive Runs Saved, but -4 Outs Above Average. He has a cannon for an arm with power and accuracy, oftentimes making up for any miscues he does make. Similarly to some of the other guys mentioned, it’s likely that he’s mostly average in either corner, with the arm preventing overeager baserunners from advancing.

The team has struggled for offense and defense from both corner outfield positions, so regardless of how the splits play out, it’d be helpful.

CF Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

Robert Jr. is an enigma. He has more potential than anyone else mentioned in this piece, but has put it all together just once in five years. Additionally, he’s now two years removed from that 4.9 fWAR and 5.3 bWAR 2023 season, where he hit 38 homers and stole 20 bases with 6 DRS and 12 OAA. He’s just about to turn 28 years-old, and has two club options for $20m per year for 2026 and 2027 that seem likely to be declined by the White Sox. He posted an .857 OPS in 2023, but has followed that up with a .657 mark in 2024, and .636 thus far in 2025. He’s likely turned into a below-average bat (albeit with plenty of upside), but remains a good defensive center fielder and a threat on the bases. His 26 stolen bases ranks sixth in the league, and his 2 OAA shows he can still add value in the field as well. The potential is tantalizing, but if you accept you’re likely getting a below-average bat with plus defense and speed, there’s the fit. Not too dissimilar from Bader, although the White Sox will likely want a return somewhat commensurate with his name and potential. It’s just unlikely that materializes for them at this point.

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Next are two valuable everyday corner outfielders with differing profiles and relative attainability.

LF Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals

There’s been an argument for Nootbaar for quite some time now, but no real rumors of his availability recently. He’s 27 years-old, under contract for two more years after 2025, and plays a solid if unspectacular left field. He fits the offensive profile for what the Dodgers like, as he doesn’t chase (89th percentile) or whiff (74th percentile) very much, and takes his walks (career 13.4% walk rate). He’s having a down year for St. Louis, with a 104 wRC+ and .712 OPS, and it’s doubtful the Cardinals will have any interest in selling low. With Chaim Bloom set to take over as President of Baseball Operations after the season, it seems more likely that Nootbaar would be traded in the offseason, if at all.

RF Adolis García, Rangers

García is 32 years-old and under control for the 2026 season, and is possibly attainable as the Rangers try to navigate a deadline where they’re not out of the picture in the Wild Card race, but also not currently high-level contenders. His bat has fallen off, with an 83 wRC+ and .667 OPS, but his defense in right field has been excellent. He’s up to 14 Defensive Runs Saved and 2 Outs Above Average on the year, with the former leading all right fielders. Similar to a handful of other players mentioned, García has potential to help offensively, but would mainly be an addition to better address defensive weaknesses.

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Lastly, there are some other less flashy and less likely options.

CF Cedric Mullins, Orioles

Mullins is a 30 year-old left-handed center fielder who would be a rental, and has been an impact player in the past but is no longer performing at that level. He’s been the worst outfielder in baseball by DRS at -17, however OAA still likes him at +2. He’s been positive out there previously, but is likely closer to average at this point, paired with one of the weakest outfield arms in the league. He has a .689 OPS this year and doesn’t seem to be playing well enough to justify making a deal for.

CF Kyle Isbel, Royals

Isbel is a 28 year-old left-handed center fielder under control for two seasons beyond 2025, and is legitimately an elite defender. He’s ranked in the 94th percentile or higher in Outs Above Average in four consecutive seasons. His issue is that he is also a well below-average hitter, with an OPS ranging from .603-.662 over those four years. His .643 OPS and +7 OAA this year are right in line with his career norms, and you can see him as a defense first center fielder that might be able to play the strong side of a platoon….if you squint. People have been hopeful that Outman could be a slightly below league-average bat due to his defense in center field and speed on the bases, and Isbel is essentially that but with a lower ceiling and a higher floor.

RF Jesús Sánchez, Marlins

Sánchez is a 27 year-old left-handed hitting outfielder with two years of control beyond 2025. He’s average to slightly above-average in right field with a strong arm and elite bat speed. He can’t hit lefties at all, but has posted an OPS in the .797-.812 range over the last three years against right-handed pitching. He’s chase and whiff prone, but has set career bests in both those departments this year, in addition to most of those issues being primarily exposed against lefties.

LF Austin Hays, Reds

Hays is a 30-year old right-handed batter who would be a rental, putting together a career year in his first season with the Reds. He’s battled some lower body injuries this year resulting in nearly half his starts coming as the designated hitter. Naturally that makes the fit less likely, as he’s probably similar to Conforto in left field currently. He does chase and whiff, but less so against left-handed pitchers, who he is demolishing this year. He has an 1.149 OPS and a 210 wRC+ against southpaws this year, after a .941 OPS and a 165 wRC+ against them last year. If the outfield trade market isn’t developing as expected or prices are too high, etc., there could be a fit here.

RF Mike Tauchman, White Sox

Tauchman’s name hasn’t been thrown around much, but considering he’s a solid player on the White Sox, you figure he’d be available. He’s a 34 year-old left-handed right fielder with one additional year of control, who is on his fourth team in four years. He’s a bit underrated, as he’s been an above-average bat for each of the last three seasons, with a 116 wRC+ and .760 OPS over nearly 1000 plate appearances. He’s not going to slug much as he has just 22 home runs over those three seasons, but he features a 13.1% walk-rate, resulting in a .363 on-base percentage. He’s a tough out who doesn’t chase much at all, and despite being at his best against right-handed pitching, he’s managed to be at least average against left-handed pitching each of the last three years. He’d be essentially a direct Conforto replacement on a very cheap deal for 2026, that should be easily attainable. Even if they just wanted another left-handed bat available off the bench, Tauchman is an experienced veteran bat that grinds out walks and tough at-bats and is still playable in the outfield.

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This is how I would personally rank some of these players in order of likelihood and fit (considering the Dodgers’ needs and likely acquisition costs).

1. Bader
2. Castro
3. Laureano
4. Donovan
5. García
6. Tauchman
7. Robert Jr.
8. Nootbaar

For me personally, there are huge tiers here. Bader, Castro, and Laureano are in a clear Tier 1 with quite a steep drop off after that. Donovan is in his own tier, as he’s expensive and it feels unlikely a deal gets done mid-season, but if the Dodgers identify him as a guy they really want to get, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the front office be aggressive. García is on an affordable deal that they could easily move in the offseason if they wanted to, and is an instant upgrade to the defense. He’s been in the postseason just once, but rose to the moment and then some. He was the 2023 ALCS MVP in the Rangers’ run to the World Series, posting an OPS of 1.108 over 15 games.

Both Hays and Tauchman feel possible due their ability to crush their respective sides of a platoon. It’s a real strength that is valued by a team that likes to play matchups and create small advantages where they can. Tauchman is more likely as he’s left-handed, but neither would particularly surprise me. Nootbaar fits the mold of what the Dodgers’ like to do offensively, and if St. Louis won’t move Donovan, maybe it makes Nootbaar expendable. Robert Jr. is an upside play that brings defense and speed, but would only be a Dodger if the White Sox lower their asking price significantly.

I’d be surprised if they don’t come away with one of the top four options, as those guys are the best fits, come with high floors while providing plenty of upside, and are also realistically attainable. They’ll add a bat to round out the roster, and we’ll see if it’s one of these guys or someone entirely unexpected. Whatever they end up doing, we’ll know within three days.