How the Los Angeles Dodgers Won the 2021 MLB Trade Deadline

The 2021 Major League Baseball season has been filled with elite talent, constant competition, and thrilling moments. Last week’s trade deadline kept the same narrative, seeing star players shipped around the league to new teams, reshaping the sport.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, a hefty income at the deadline was not a requirement. They already have the talent to compete for their second straight World Series title; however, injuries and other setbacks — along with more active competitors — prompted LA’s President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, to be aggressive as July 30th arrived.

As the week began, early implications suggested many talented players would be on the move. Over the span of a few days, the league saw big names like Starling Marte, Adam Frazier, Nelson Cruz, and Joey Gallo relocate to new teams.

The initial big news on Thursday, July 29th, was the San Diego Padres seemingly closing in on a deal with the Washington Nationals for superstar Max Scherzer. It seemed set in stone that Scherzer would be headed west around 3 pm that afternoon when it was announced that the Dodgers acquired left-hander Danny Duffy from the Kansas City Royals. As the Duffy trade became official, complications kept the Nationals searching for a better Scherzer deal elsewhere. Three hours after adding Duffy to their roster, it was announced — seemingly out of nowhere — that the reigning champs had swooped in and stole Scherzer away. Not only that, but LA also acquired star shortstop and one of the game’s best hitters Trea Turner from Washington. The news broke, and the baseball world nearly exploded as the deal came to fruition.

It was no question that the Dodgers would be searching for a solid, affordable arm to either round out their rotation or pitch some innings out of the bullpen while guys like Clayton Kershaw, Corey Knebel, and Jimmy Nelson work their way back to 100% from injuries. Duffy, acquired from the Royals for a player to be named later, fills this role perfectly. He is a veteran left-hander (32-years-old) who has pitched very well this season, owning a 4–3 record with a 2.51 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 61 innings. Duffy, who is currently on the Injured List with a flexor strain but is expected to return over the next few weeks, will be a free agent this winter. He grew up a Dodgers fan near Santa Barbara. He is crafty, utilizing a five-pitch repertoire, and could be a multi-innings weapon for LA come October.

It was known for weeks leading up to the deadline that Scherzer would be the prime trade target for many teams. While he doesn’t need much of an introduction, the 37-year-old righty is a three-time Cy Young award winner, a World Series champion in 2019, and is undoubtedly a future Hall-of-Famer. He hasn’t slowed down much in his later years, pitching to an 8–4 record with a 2.76 ERA and 147 strikeouts in 111 innings this season that earned him the starting job in the All-Star Game. He hops right into the rotation. Scherzer, approaching 3,000 strikeouts in his career, is scheduled to become a free agent after this season. It doesn’t seem unlikely to think that the Dodgers will attempt to extend him when the time comes, though their main focus is, without question getting the best of Scherzer over the final few months of ’21 in hopes of winning another ring.

Along with Scherzer, LA gained an all-star bat in the form of the exceptionally fast, athletic, and talented Trea Turner. At 28-years-old, he is one of the game’s premier shortstops, although he can play nearly any position on the diamond well. Under contract until 2022, Turner is among baseball’s most productive hitters, boasting a .322 average with 18 home runs, 49 RBI’s, and 21 stolen bases in an outstanding campaign thus far. He is, however, currently out in COVID protocols and will be unavailable for about a week. For the Dodgers, this addition creates a ridiculously talented lineup. With Corey Seager returning from the IL likely as the team’s shortstop moving forward (until he becomes a free agent this off-season), it’s fair to believe that Turner will play second base. Where he’ll hit in the order, surrounded by Mookie Betts, Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Seager, and others, is yet to be determined. No matter where he’s placed, though, Turner will help take LA to the next level. He crushes lefties particularly well — something the Dodgers needed to add— and brings a winning presence.

This was a blockbuster move that nobody expected. In return for these two studs, the Dodgers parted ways with four prospects: catcher Keibert Ruiz, pitchers Josiah Gray and Gerardo Carrillo, and outfielder Donovan Casey. Both Ruiz and Gray debuted at the Major League level recently and have superb minor league numbers that ranked them highly on LA’s prospects list. Many assume that Ruiz will be a solid big-league catcher with the potential to be elite. Gray has a similar ceiling as a starter. While the Dodgers have been hesitant to deal these two players in the recent past, the organization is flush with talent in both areas. Carrillo and Casey both found success at the AA level but are yet to be promoted.

LA is currently in second place in the NL West — MLB’s most competitive division. They trail the San Francisco Giants but plan to make a run for the division lead as they welcome back a few guys from the IL and add Duffy, Scherzer, and Turner.

When the Dodgers made Trevor Bauer the highest-paid player in baseball this past off-season, they probably didn’t plan on making any huge moves at the deadline. But, now that Bauer is on administrative leave amidst sexual assault allegations and is unlikely to return any time soon, LA was forced to pivot, and they did just that. The Dodgers franchise is like no other. Their commitment to remaining perennial contenders is unmatched.

Within the final 24 hours up to the deadline, things picked up rapidly. The National League saw the Padres acquire Daniel Hudson from the Nationals, the New York Mets take Javier Báez from the Chicago Cubs, and the Giants add Kris Bryant from the Cubs. Contenders in the American League improved, too, with the Chicago White Sox bolstering their already stellar bullpen by adding Craig Kimbrel from their crosstown rivaled Cubs and the New York Yankees trading for Anthony Rizzo… also from the Cubs. The Toronto Blue Jays also swapped with the Minnesota Twins in a deal that landed Jose Berríos in Canada.

Nobody knows what moves will be the difference maker come the Postseason. Only time will tell. Whether or not LA wins their second straight World Series will come down to their execution in October with the talent they have on their roster.

Only one thing is for sure: the final few months of the 2021 MLB season are going to be incredible.