​The Dodgers are trending as potential buyers at the trade deadline, and it’s unsurprising that Tarik Skubal has been a constant name in the chatter this summer. Yet with the Detroit Tigers possibly pursuing a postseason berth or asking for a price that might stretch the Dodgers, Andrew Friedman and company could pivot to other pitching options to bolster the rotation.
A recent, “realistic” trade idea from Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report suggests a deal that would send two valuable Dodgers prospects to Baltimore in exchange for left-hander Trevor Rogers, who owns a 4.48 ERA this season. Miller’s proposed exchange would be: Los Angeles Dodgers acquire LHP Trevor Rogers from the Baltimore Orioles for LHP Jackson Ferris and outfielder/first baseman Ryan Ward. It’s a proposal that has sparked some discussion, given the Dodgers’ need for a reliable starting arm and the Orioles’ willingness to move Rogers in a rental situation.
Landing a proven starter would be appealing, especially given the Dodgers’ history of rotation injuries. Still, this particular trade would feel misaligned with the club’s long-term plans. Jackson Ferris is one of the top prospects in the Dodgers’ farm system—a 22-year-old lefty who has impressed in the minors. He’s endured a rough 2024-2025 stretch overall, posting a 6.96 ERA across 14 starts this season, but his 3.86 ERA in 2025 and 3.20 ERA in 2024 provide encouraging signs for his upside and development trajectory.
Ryan Ward isn’t a bad depth piece, either. At 28, he’s established himself as a solid major-league contributor. This season he has a 0.738 OPS across 20 games and 55 at-bats for the Dodgers, and in the minor leagues last year, he posted a strong .937 OPS. This season he’s sitting with a .772 OPS in the majors, indicating he could be a useful asset if incorporated into a larger deal. Still, his age and role as a likely part-time or platoon player make him somewhat expendable in a package meant to address a long-term pitching need.
But trading Ferris and Ward for Rogers—an innings-eater-type who, despite posting a 4.48 ERA overall this season, has shown moments of excellence since early June—could be a difficult sell for a club looking to maintain a clear path toward sustained success. Rogers has delivered a 1.73 ERA over his seven starts since the start of June, with 31 strikeouts and a 4-1 record across 41.2 innings, but his overall inconsistency makes him a rental that may not move the needle enough for a championship push. Giving up two high-upside prospects for a pitcher who may not move the needle as a true difference-maker raises questions about whether the deal is worth it for a franchise focused on long-term contention.
From a Dodgers perspective, the cost of acquiring a pitcher like Rogers might not exhibit enough upside to justify parting with Ferris and Ward, two players who could contribute at the major league level in the near term or continue to develop into valuable trade assets. If the goal is a legitimate upgrade for the rotation, it would seem prudent to pursue a pitcher with a higher probability of delivering a sizable, stable impact or to pursue talent that aligns more clearly with the Dodgers’ long-term window.
With that in mind, the conversation around Tarik Skubal remains particularly compelling. Skubal presents a younger, cost-controlled option with a longer runway of impact and a track record that suggests he could be a foundational piece for a championship-contending rotation. If the price for Skubal remains within a reasonable window, pursuing him could align well with the Dodgers’ broader strategic objectives: add an elite, controllable arm without sacrificing the pipeline of future talent that the organization has carefully built. If the price for Rogers is too high or the return is not commensurate with the risk, the Dodgers might be better served to keep Ferris and Ward intact or to pivot toward alternative targets who offer a clearer path to a multi-year impact rather than a shorter-term rental.
As trade season unfolds, the Dodgers will likely weigh several options, including the possibility of acquiring Skubal outright, evaluating other upper-level pitching targets, or even choosing to stand pat if the cost to upgrade is prohibitive. The overarching goal remains clear: fortify the rotation with a pitcher who can contribute meaningfully toward a deep postseason run, while preserving enough young talent and depth within the system to support sustained competitiveness beyond this year.