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Dodgers Urged to Trade for Former World Series Champion Veteran Starter

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sterling Bennett | Last updated Jun 5, 2025 9:00 PM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers' once-deep starting rotation has now turned into a patchwork project. Now, with the trade deadline approaching, they may turn to a familiar face to plug the holes.

R.J. Anderson of CBS Sports recently identified Pittsburgh Pirates left-hander Andrew Heaney as a potential trade target for Los Angeles. As the Dodgers navigate injuries to Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, both on the 60-day injured list, Heaney would be an excellent addition due to his ability to eat innings. With health being a serious concern, Heaney has topped over 147 innings in the last two seasons and has already notched 66.1 innings this season – which would rank second behind Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the Dodgers.

Heaney has been a steady presence for Pittsburgh in 2025, posting a sub-4.00 ERA for just the third time in his career. While his strikeout rate has dipped, from a career average of 9.3 K/9 to just 6.4 this season, he is inducing softer contact and limiting runs. His .242 batting average on balls in play is the lowest of his career.

Describing Heaney, Anderson called the 12-year veteran a "Rorschach test for how one evaluates pitchers."

"He’s keeping runs off the board, but the swing-and-miss stuff has disappeared. And teams already viewed him with some skepticism, as evidenced by his one-year, $5 million deal last offseason."

That skepticism may be something the Dodgers will not have an issue with since it would not be Heaney’s first stint in Los Angeles. In 2022, he posted a 3.10 ERA and struck out 110 batters in just 72.2 innings.

Although there will be more alluring names on the trade market, Heaney is a cheap rental arm that can fill a consistent spot in the rotation while the Dodgers’ key starters work on returning. And even if his slot in the rotation is eventually filled by Glasnow, Snell, or Roki Sasaki, he can slide into a long-relief or spot-starter role and strengthen Los Angeles’ pitching staff further.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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