The Los Angeles Dodgers continue their pursuit of an unprecedented achievement, chasing a third straight World Series championship this season. With a roster stacked by elite talent, the club remains focused on fine-tuning every aspect of their lineup to maintain dominance through the regular season and into October.
Second base stands out as one position offering multiple viable solutions for the Dodgers. The recent activation of Tommy Edman from the injured list has strengthened their internal options, providing flexibility in how they construct their infield.
Yet the organization could explore creative ways to deploy Edman in other roles while seeking a meaningful offensive improvement over current contributors Alex Freeland and Miguel Rojas. Such a move might involve bringing in external help through the trade market to elevate production at the position.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Detroit Tigers appear poised to become active sellers, creating opportunities for contending teams like Los Angeles.
According to ESPN analysts Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel, the Dodgers rank among the most logical destinations for one particular second baseman from Detroit.
“[Gleyber] Torres is leaning more into getting on base this year rather than power, and his defensive metrics are the best they’ve been in his career at second base,” Passan and McDaniel wrote. “He isn’t offering a sexy upside, but this version of Torres is more attractive to more teams, as his more power-focused approach hadn’t led to above-average power production in 2024 or 2025.”
This shift in approach has transformed Torres into a steadier contributor. His current .395 on-base percentage would place him among the American League leaders if he had enough plate appearances to qualify, highlighting his ability to reach base consistently.
Placing a high-OBP hitter like Torres directly in front of power threats such as Kyle Tucker and Shohei Ohtani could create significant ripple effects throughout the Dodgers’ batting order. The setup would allow him to set the table effectively, forcing opposing pitchers into difficult situations with dangerous sluggers looming on deck.
Although Torres once posted a career-best 38 home runs back in 2019 during his time with the New York Yankees, his power output has been limited this year. He has managed just four homers across 43 games while currently recovering from an oblique strain, further emphasizing his evolution as a contact-oriented player.
For the Dodgers, additional power is hardly a priority given their existing firepower. Instead, Torres could deliver reliable at-bats and solid contact, particularly if positioned toward the lower half of the order where consistency matters greatly.
In most other lineups around the league, the 29-year-old would likely occupy a leadoff spot or land near the heart of the batting order. However, on a star-studded roster like Los Angeles possesses, his skill set might generate even greater overall value when slotted deeper, helping to strengthen the bottom of the lineup without disrupting the top-end talent already in place.
This potential fit could give the Dodgers yet another edge as they aim for continued postseason success.
