​The St. Louis Cardinals could potentially bolster the Los Angeles Dodgers, making an already potent team even tougher. The Dodgers currently own more wins than any other club in Major League Baseball, and there’s little doubt about the strength and depth of their roster. In baseball lore, there’s a well-worn adage: you can never have too much pitching. A potential trade with the St. Louis Cardinals might further enhance the Dodgers’ formidable lineup, addressing a rotation that has encountered injury issues and a bullpen that could always benefit from fresh arms.
One name to watch as the trade deadline nears is Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers, a left-handed All-Star who has generated substantial speculation about a possible Dodgers deal before or at the August 3 deadline. Acquiring Skubal would be a logical move, yet the Dodgers’ bullpen injuries suggest they may need more than just a single acquisition in the pitching department.
Another possibility for the Dodgers to consider is right-handed closer Riley O’Brien of the Cardinals, a pitcher who has emerged as a notable trade target as the deadline approaches. O’Brien, 31, has already secured a career-high 22 saves this season for St. Louis. He stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs around 180 pounds, a tall, slender presence on the mound. O’Brien was selected in the eighth round by the Tampa Bay Rays out of the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho, receiving a $7,500 signing bonus after his collegiate stint. He attended high school in Shoreline, Washington, and began his college career at Everett Community College before transferring to the College of Idaho, where he pitched for one season.
During his time at the College of Idaho, O’Brien appeared in 20 games, with 14 of those appearances coming in relief. He posted a 2.15 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP across 67 innings. In 2020, the Rays traded O’Brien to the Cincinnati Reds, and in 2022 the Reds sent him to the Seattle Mariners. In 2023, the Mariners sold him to the Cardinals. The life of a professional baseball pitcher is often characterized by movement, and O’Brien’s journey has been no exception. He made his major league debut with the Reds on September 28, 2001, and has spent the last three seasons with the Cardinals. Now, with the trade market heating up, a move to the Dodgers could be a natural fit for a team always seeking reliable late-inning depth.
Solid relievers are consistently in demand, and the Dodgers are a natural destination for a pitcher of O’Brien’s profile. At this stage of his career, O’Brien has just over one year of MLB service time accrued, a detail that sor notes emphasize: he has four years of club control remaining, a factor that enhances his value as a trade asset. He can reach 100 mph with his fastball, according to reports, which adds another layer to his appeal for teams seeking late-inning electricity. If a team such as the Dodgers were to acquire O’Brien, they would obtain a dependable reliever who won’t become a free agent until 2031. Arbitration eligibility would not arrive for him until 2028, further increasing his value as a controlled asset for a team aiming to sustain competitiveness over a multi-year horizon.
As the deadline approaches, interest in Riley O’Brien could intensify, given his track record and the strategic fit with a contender like the Dodgers. A trade for O’Brien would address immediate bullpen needs while preserving club control, offering the Dodgers a stable, high-leverage option to complement their existing arms. The combination of Skubal’s potential addition to the rotation and O’Brien’s proven late-inning reliability could provide the Dodgers with a well-rounded upgrade that strengthens both the starting staff and the bullpen as they push toward October.