There was a time when the Los Angeles Dodgers could plug every hole with a prospect and still have leftovers for spring training. But in 2025, their well-oiled depth machine is starting to creak—and no, it’s not just from the luxury tax weight. As Andrew Friedman eyes another blockbuster, the question isn’t whether the Dodgers can trade their future—it’s whether they finally shouldn’t.
There was a time when the Dodgers could patch every roster hole with a prospect and still have extras in Triple-A. Their farm system—once the envy of baseball—still ranks among MLB’s best in 2025, boasting six names in MLB Pipeline’s Top-100, including Roki Sasaki, Dalton Rushing, and Josue De Paula. Under Friedman’s leadership, the team perfected the delicate dance of developing from within while trading smartly for elite talent. That combination powered a decade-long run of division titles and playoff appearances without the need for constant free-agent splurges. But now, that machine may be reaching the end of its assembly line.
Until recently, the Dodgers’ model worked flawlessly. The team pulled off blockbusters for stars like Mookie Betts and Trea Turner by giving up depth, not future cornerstones. They maximized their prospect pool, flipped assets at peak value, and kept their system stocked. Baseball America and MLB Pipeline regularly placed them in the top tier of organizational rankings. Yet cracks are beginning to show, and insiders now question whether recent drafts have truly replenished the pipeline or simply masked growing vulnerability.
In 2025, those cracks widened. A wave of pitching injuries and inconsistent performances exposed the major league roster’s dependence on upper-minor depth. The rotation—once a fortress—has looked alarmingly thin, forcing Friedman and the front office to scout the trade market with greater urgency. Now, with contenders circling and the playoffs looming, the Dodgers find themselves eyeing external fixes. But that means tapping into their top-tier prospects at a time when they can least afford it.
Reports suggest the Dodgers are heavily exploring trades for frontline starters like Zac Gallen and relievers like Emmanuel Clase. Both would immediately boost their postseason push—but neither will come cheap. Arizona is demanding multiple Top-100 prospects for Gallen, and Cleveland isn’t moving Clase without a sizable haul. If De Paula or Rushing are included in any deal, the Dodgers risk hollowing out the core of their next wave. Combined with 2024’s trades for Jack Flaherty, the system might not withstand another purge.
Apr 26, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) pitches to the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Meanwhile, other contenders are reading the room differently. The San Diego Padres, for example, have reportedly refused to trade top prospects Leo De Vries or Ethan Salas, even amid deadline pressure. San Diego is focusing on modest veteran additions instead of mortgaging its future. Likewise, the Phillies continue building around a controllable, extended core—Bryce Harper, Alec Bohm, Mick Abel—while resisting the temptation to sell youth for short-term patches. These teams are constructing contention windows designed to stretch, not snap.
This strategic contrast is stark. The Dodgers are leaning into their financial might and organizational depth to buy now, while the Padres and Phillies play a longer game. It’s a difference in philosophy: future insulation versus present escalation. And if the Dodgers burn through key prospects without a deep playoff run, they could be left without reinforcements down the road. Their rivals may not outspend them, but they’re learning how to outlast them.
The irony? Los Angeles already has one of MLB’s largest payrolls. That should offer security, but it also raises the stakes of every decision. With so much money committed, any trade that fails—especially for a rental—magnifies the damage. If they move De Paula for Gallen and flame out in October, the cost won’t just be in dollars. It’ll be in years of lost prospective capital.
And this year, the market isn’t doing them any favors. The 2025 trade deadline is shaping up as a classic seller’s market: high demand, low supply, inflated prices. Even the Dodgers can’t finesse around economics that demand two or three top-100 prospects per deal. The days of buying low are gone—this year, even modest upgrades carry prospect-clearing costs. And the deeper they dig into the system, the harder it becomes to make future deals.
Source: Josue De Paula’s Instagram Account
That’s the risk with relying too long on yesterday’s blueprint. The Dodgers have mastered the trade deadline dance, but this season’s music has changed. Past success built expectations and habits that don’t account for this year’s scarcity and rival evolution. According to The Athletic, the current seller’s market demands unprecedented prospect hauls that far exceed those in previous years. This means the Dodgers might have to give up a lot of young, talented players just to get what they need now.
If they’re not careful, 2025 might not be the year they strengthen their legacy—it might be the year they mortgage it. What was once their superpower—organizational depth—now looks dangerously close to an overdraft. In a market where rivals are playing chess and the Dodgers are still flipping Monopoly houses, the risk of collapse is real.
For a team that’s mastered winning the winter and July headlines, 2025 may ask a harder question: can they still win October without mortgaging November?
Even if the Dodgers do trade, the fans don’t want to see two trades
The Dodgers have always been a franchise that treats July like a clearance sale with premium prices, but it seems like suddenly they’re finding out there’s such a thing as too much ambition. Fans aren’t asking them to sit out the deadline—they’re just begging for a little restraint. Two splashy trades? That’s not aggression, that’s excess with a side of amnesia. Especially when the depth they keep spending might already be circling the drain.
If the rumors are true and the Dodgers did indeed trade for Emmanuel Clase and Steven Kwan, it could urgently solve their bullpen and contact-hitting gaps. Clase currently holds an impressive 2.80 ERA with 22 saves in 45 appearances, and would bolster the closer role immediately. As for Kwan, he adds elite bat‑to‑ball skill with a .285 batting average and an OPS around .789 in 2025. Together, they would significantly stabilize LA’s late innings and improve offensive consistency instantly.
Acquiring a reliable bench or utility infielder addresses depth issues from injuries like Muncy and Enrique Hernández. That strategic upgrade fills current weak spots and reduces pressure on regular starters effectively. Such a player could shore up the infield and prevent defensive lapses that frustrate fans. Ultimately, enhancing bench versatility reduces risk and keeps LA competitive during injury stretches.
On the other hand, trading for Luis Robert Jr. remains perilous given his unsteady performance and recurring health issues. Robert is batting just .182 with a .269 OBP and continued injury concerns through July 2025. His inconsistency and recent biomechanics struggles make him a high-risk addition at this deadline. Dodgers fans understandably worry that Robert would regress instead of stabilizing their lineup.
Then, there is Sandy Alcántara. Pursuing him as a starter could backfire due to his rough 2025 numbers and injury risks. Alcántara has struggled to a 7.14 ERA and 1.49 WHIP through 18 starts, far below his former Cy Young form. Despite his high pedigree, inconsistent command and diminished results suggest limited upside right now. Trading for him would be more gamble than a strategic upgrade at this point.
So, while the Dodgers could gain much-needed relief and reliability from the right trades, not every blockbuster is worth the explosion. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should—especially when the clubhouse already feels like a triage unit. In the end, the Dodgers don’t need to swing for chaos—they need to swing for clarity. Overpaying for underperformers isn’t roster building; it’s just bad budgeting in a premium market. At this point, LA should worry less about headlines and more about holding the line.
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