Here’s exactly what Dodgers want before trade deadline

The MLB trade deadline isn’t until August 3, but rumors are already starting to spread around the league. While the Los Angeles Dodgers are nine games ahead in the NL West, it appears the club knows exactly what it’s looking for before the trade deadline.

Reports indicate that, instead of making a trade to improve a position, the Dodgers simply want the roster to get healthy, according to Jim Bowden of The Athletic. Health within the pitching group would be huge for Los Angeles, and perhaps more important than any possible trade the front office could make. However, Bowden claims L.A. could be interested in Tarik Skubal if the Detroit Tigers make the left-handed ace available.

“When I reached out to the Dodgers, they responded, ‘Just get healthy,’ and I’m actually in agreement,” wrote Bowden. “They really have no obvious needs. If they can get Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Edwin Diaz all back at some point, they still have the best team in the sport. However, don’t count them out if the Tigers deal Tarik Skubal.”

While the idea of Skubal playing for the Dodgers is enticing, the franchise may prioritize getting its roster healthy. Snell, Glasnow, and Diaz are all on the 60-day IL. Los Angeles has 12 total players on the injured list, which also includes Will Smith, Kiké Hernandez, and Teoscar Hernandez.

Additionally, Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani is dealing with inflammation in his left knee and sustained a bloody blister during his start in Wednesday’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. The good news there is that Ohtani does not appear to be heading to the IL anytime soon.

With the MLB trade deadline set for August 3, the Dodgers have plenty of time between now and then to get healthy. Several of their key players on the IL are scheduled to return at some point in July. That would mean most of the star players on the roster would be primed for the second half of the regular season.