​The Los Angeles Dodgers are, as many expected, the top team in Major League Baseball by the numbers, boasting a 61-33 record that has helped them coast to a commanding lead in the National League West, where they sit 14 1/2 games ahead of the field. They remain the favorites to capture another World Series banner, but a persistent issue could derail those long-term playoff ambitions: their starting rotation. With both Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell on the injured list, Los Angeles will likely need to add an arm or two at the trade deadline to bolster their depth and durability.
Tarik Skubal is the obvious hot name, but Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report has floated an alternative path. If the Detroit Tigers don’t move Skubal, Miller suggests Baltimore Orioles left-hander Trevor Rogers as another option to explore. The article notes that Rogers went through a brutal stretch from mid-April through the end of May, recording seven starts with a 10.01 ERA and a two-week IL stint in the midst of that rough patch. However, Miller argues that when you blend Rogers’ early-season form, his final six starts, and the 18 starts he logged last season, you end up with a 1.81 ERA across 27 appearances. Taken in that context, Rogers could become a meaningful contributor for the Dodgers come October, even if Snell and Glasnow return to form.
Overall, Rogers has had his share of trouble this season, posting a 6-7 record with a 4.48 ERA over 17 starts. He did, however, earn an All-Star nod in 2021 with the Miami Marlins, signaling that there is potential for a bounce-back run from his arm. The proposed trade would send left-hander Jackson Ferris and outfielder Ryan Ward to Baltimore, the Dodgers’ No. 10 and No. 19 prospects, respectively. It’s possible the Dodgers would need to part with two top-30 prospects to land Rogers, but as a rental, his cost may not be prohibitive beyond that.
Rogers isn’t a high-strikeout pitcher, but when he’s healthy he can anchor a rotation, offering a reliable option to start a crucial game in a playoff scenario or provide long relief behind a bullpen that may need an extra veteran arm. For Baltimore, trading a rental like Rogers makes sense as they drift further from contention, and rightfully, they would want a solid return of prospects to help shape the franchise’s future. The logistics of a potential deal would hinge on Detroit’s willingness to part with Skubal; if they hold firm, Rogers could serve as a practical fallback, giving the Dodgers a dependable veteran presence for big games and added depth in the back end of the rotation.
In the broader picture, the Dodgers are now largely focused on securing the top seed in the National League, given that the NL West title race has begun to drift away from their nearest challengers. The team’s approach to the deadline will likely balance the desire to fortify the rotation with the cost of acquiring talent who can help them push through October. If Skubal remains off the market, Rogers could emerge as a compelling option that aligns with the Dodgers’ immediate needs and long-term goals.
For fans following high-level MLB moves and strategic trades, this is a storyline to watch closely as the trade deadline approaches. The Dodgers’ core remains formidable, but addressing the rotation will be crucial if they hope to translate regular-season dominance into another championship run. Stay tuned for further updates as teams weigh their options and evaluate the potential value of silencing the questions in their pitching staff come postseason time.