Dodgers Miss Out as Two More Trade Targets Head to National League Rivals, Intensifying Pressure Ahead of the Deadline’s Final Hours
Two more Dodgers trade targets have gone off the board to National League teams.
At first glance, that might seem like just another footnote in the annual chaos of the MLB trade deadline. But for a team like the Dodgers — a perennial contender with a win-now mandate — every missed opportunity carries weight. These aren’t just players going elsewhere. These are opportunities slipping through the cracks. And more significantly, they’re opportunities being taken by teams the Dodgers could very well meet in October.
In a National League race that’s more competitive than it has been in years, the margins separating World Series dreams from early exits are razor thin. The Dodgers know this better than anyone. They’ve built a dynasty of regular-season dominance but have occasionally found themselves outmaneuvered in the postseason by teams who made the right moves at the right time. So when other contenders strike first — and successfully — while Los Angeles continues to monitor the market, tension begins to rise.
The names of the two players the Dodgers missed out on aren’t necessarily as important as the broader pattern. Both were players linked to L.A. in recent weeks. Both filled needs. Both were seen as “fit” pieces — whether that be a bullpen arm to reinforce late-inning matchups or a right-handed bat to lengthen the lineup. And now, both are headed to other teams in the National League playoff picture. It’s not just a loss of potential production. It’s a shift in competitive balance.
The first missed target — a hard-throwing reliever — landed with a divisional rival. That alone raises eyebrows. Not only will the Dodgers not have his services in their own bullpen, but they’ll now have to face him — possibly multiple times — down the stretch and, potentially, in a playoff series. It’s the kind of move that changes game planning and introduces new threats into the equation. A reliever who once could’ve been shutting the door for the Dodgers will now be trying to slam it in their faces.
The second target was a versatile position player — the kind of bat that adds flexibility to a manager’s lineup card and depth to the bench. He’s not a superstar, but in October baseball, versatility often matters more than star power. A player who can hit in multiple spots, play three positions, and come through in late-game moments is a weapon. And now, he’s a weapon in someone else’s arsenal.
This isn’t to say the Dodgers are standing still. That would be an unfair characterization of a front office that has consistently pulled off savvy, high-impact deals at the deadline. Just last season, they managed to revamp their pitching staff without mortgaging the future. They’ve shown time and again that they know how to strike — sometimes late, often quietly — and turn mid-tier acquisitions into postseason gold. But as the clock ticks toward the final hours of the 2025 trade deadline, the pressure to act — and act boldly — is increasing.
The Dodgers’ roster is still among the most formidable in baseball. With stars like Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani anchoring the lineup, and a rotation headlined by elite talent, this is not a team in need of a massive overhaul. But championships are won not by relying on the core alone, but by supplementing it with the right pieces at the right time. That’s what makes these recent developments so important. The Dodgers didn’t just lose out on two helpful players — they were outpaced by teams who are trying to do the same thing L.A. is trying to do: win it all.
It also raises strategic questions. Were the Dodgers too cautious? Too unwilling to meet the asking price? Are they holding prospects too tightly in a market that demands aggression? Or do they have bigger plans in motion — plans that will make these losses feel minor in hindsight? All are fair questions. And the answers will reveal themselves soon enough. The front office, led by Andrew Friedman, has earned the benefit of the doubt over the years, but the moment still demands action.
There’s a psychological impact to all of this, too. Every missed trade is a message to the clubhouse — whether intentional or not. Players, especially veterans, watch the deadline closely. They want to know the front office is committed to going all in. They want reinforcements. They want help. A missed trade doesn’t necessarily mean a lack of faith from management, but too many missed opportunities can start to feel like inertia. Momentum matters, and right now, it’s flowing toward other National League teams.
Fans, too, are feeling the heat. Dodger fans are some of the most passionate and engaged in baseball. They know the game. They study the rumors. They’ve seen this team build winners year after year. But they’ve also seen years where being “close” wasn’t good enough. There’s an understandable hunger — and expectation — that this team will not just reach the postseason but dominate it. Watching key trade targets land with potential playoff opponents is frustrating, especially when the window for action is rapidly closing.
And yet, this is the reality of the deadline. You don’t get everyone. You can’t win every negotiation. Other teams are motivated, aggressive, and capable. Sometimes, the market moves faster than your offers. Sometimes, prospects you’re not willing to part with are exactly what another team demands. It’s a chess match played on a 30-team board, and not every piece can be captured. But when your direct competitors make their moves first, the pressure mounts to respond — and respond well.
There’s also the ripple effect of these trades to consider. With two more names off the board, the remaining market just got tighter. Sellers have more leverage. Prices go up. Options shrink. And the Dodgers’ list of targets becomes shorter and more urgent. If the goal is to land a late-inning reliever or add a right-handed bat off the bench, there are still names available — but they’ll cost more now, and the competition will be fiercer.
The good news for Dodgers fans is that their front office rarely panics. They don’t chase names. They chase fits. They value flexibility, long-term sustainability, and making smart moves, not just flashy ones. Brock Stewart’s recent acquisition is a great example — a reunion with a pitcher who fits a need and knows the system. It may not be headline-grabbing, but it’s the kind of depth move that pays off when games get tight.
Still, the Dodgers likely aren’t done. They can’t afford to be. With multiple National League contenders improving their rosters in tangible ways, standing still is not an option. The team may still pursue a big-name reliever, a veteran starter for rotation insurance, or even a bench bat that can mash lefties. There are moves to be made — but they have to come quickly, decisively, and with purpose.
The narrative of this trade deadline is still being written. But the early chapters are clear: the Dodgers are in a race not just for playoff seeding, but for roster superiority. Two of their targets have already joined the opposition. That raises the stakes, not just in the standings, but in the front office war room. The next few hours will define whether Los Angeles keeps pace, takes the lead — or is left wondering what might have been.
So as the trade market tightens and time ticks away, all eyes are on the Dodgers. They’ve built a reputation as one of baseball’s smartest organizations. Now is the time to show why. Because two more targets have gone off the board — and October is getting closer every day.
