The Los Angeles Dodgers sit in a strong position to add talent before the trade deadline, yet their surplus of big-league depth could also let them explore the market as sellers of excess pieces.
Katie Woo of The Athletic reported that left-handed pitcher Eric Lauer and outfielder Alex Call stand out as two major-league depth options the club might make available while several key contributors prepare to return from the injured list. Starting pitching remains a scarce commodity at this stage of the season, and a thin supply of available right-handed hitters further strengthens the Dodgers’ leverage.
Lauer, 31, arrived from the Toronto Blue Jays on May 17 after injuries sidelined both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell in the same week. Los Angeles surrendered only cash considerations for the left-hander, who had been designated for assignment by Toronto following a rough start that produced a 6.69 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 36.1 innings.
Since joining the Dodgers, Lauer has delivered steady production. Across eight appearances, including seven starts, he has recorded a 3.35 ERA and 1.07 WHIP while striking out 26 batters in 45.2 innings. The team has won all eight games in which he has taken the mound.
Outside observers, according to Woo, largely believe the Dodgers would be smart to retain Lauer for depth even as Glasnow and Snell approach their returns. Relinquishing reliable rotation help could prove costly given the uncertain timeline for Shohei Ohtani’s return to pitching and the extended absences both Glasnow and Snell have already endured this season.
Yet another view holds that Lauer would struggle to secure a spot in a fully healthy Dodgers postseason rotation. He might also fall short of a bullpen role in a deep relief corps featuring Edwin Díaz and Tanner Scott, along with multi-inning options such as Roki Sasaki and Justin Wrobleski.
If the organization does not see Lauer as part of its October plans, moving him now could free resources to fill other gaps.
Call, also 31, faces a comparable roster squeeze despite occupying a different position. With the versatile Kiké Hernández scheduled to come off the injured list on Tuesday, Call’s roster place becomes largely expendable alongside healthy outfielders Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández.
In 141 plate appearances this year, Call has posted a .246/.355/.314 slash line with one home run and 16 RBIs. While power is not a major part of his game, his plate discipline and speed could appeal to a contending club seeking a right-handed bat off the bench.
Woo noted that the Dodgers are focused on strengthening their minor-league system, with particular interest in middle infielders, catchers and upper-level starting pitchers. Trading either Lauer or Call—or both—would give the club a path toward those organizational goals while still addressing big-league needs elsewhere.
The combination of impending roster additions and market scarcity creates an unusual window for Los Angeles. Contending teams rarely possess both the surplus depth and the prospect appetite to operate on both sides of the trade ledger at once.
Whether the Dodgers ultimately deal Lauer, Call or neither remains to be seen, but the flexibility they currently enjoy is rare for a club already positioned near the top of the standings. Any moves they make in the coming days will likely reflect a dual aim: protecting the major-league roster for a deep postseason run while quietly restocking the farm system for the years ahead.
In a deadline period defined by scarcity, the Dodgers’ depth may prove as valuable a commodity as any bat or arm they choose to acquire.
