LOS ANGELES — As another trade deadline approaches, it is another season where Dodgers players currently on the disabled list will amount to key roster additions for the stretch drive.
Utility man Kiké Hernandez returned to the active roster Tuesday and right-handed closer Edwin Diaz was the latest addition Wednesday. Left-hander Blake Snell is in line to rejoin the rotation next week. Hernandez had an oblique injury, while Diaz and Snell had the same elbow procedure to remove loose bodies.
Further down the line, right-hander Tyler Glasnow (back) is expected to return, as will catcher Will Smith (neck).
They aren’t just players to fill a specific need, they are almost all All-Star-caliber players who will be fresh and ready to contribute with the postseason approaching.
The late-season influx of existing talent each year no longer seems like a coincidence. And the way the Dodgers handle injuries, it isn’t.
“When we talk about this a lot with guys getting back from injury – it’s get ’em back to stay back,” Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said. “Not get ’em back as quickly as we can, but get ’em back to stay back, and so that is kind of what we are (dealing) with.”
In taking their time with recovery timetables, a luxury afforded by being high in the standings throughout the season, activation dates tend to collide late in the season.
Last season, it was Tanner Scortt, Max Muncy, Alex Vesia, Snell, Tommy Edman, Roki Sasaki and Glasnow all returning late in the second half. In 2024, it was Edman, Muncy, Blake Treinen, Freddie Freeman, Walker Buehler and Yoshinobu Yamamoto who returned after the deadline.
That is not to say the Dodgers will blow past Monday’s trade deadline without making a move. The club is expected to at least explore the possibility of acquiring two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers.
“I think our mindset is always, and we’ve talked about this, there just aren’t that many star-level players in the game,” Friedman said when asked about trying to acquire unnamed players who move the needle. “Any time one is available, we’re always going to participate in those conversations.”
Shohei Ohtani’s availability as a pitcher remains in question, mostly because of left knee soreness, but with Snell and Glasnow returning in due time, Friedman would not characterize starting pitching as a pressing need.
“We’re confident (Ohtani) is going to come back,” Friedman said. “Again, if there was something structural, then we would be much more concerned with that. But there’s not. And the fact that it does keep improving suggests that we’re on the right path and feel very confident that he will be back.”
IN THE SWING OF THINGS
Friedman confirmed Manager Dave Roberts’ stance from Tuesday that the Dodgers have no plans to shut down Ohtani on the offensive side in order to accelerate his recovery from his sore knee as a way to get him back on the mound sooner.
Ohtani said Tuesday that his right biceps is “not 100%,” with the Dodgers feeling that his knee soreness is 99% of the concern.
“If it weren’t for the knee, he would be pitching right now; he would be making his regular turn,” Friedman said. “… Does he feel 100% in his arm? No. But neither does any pitcher in late July. This is about the knee and making sure that we can get it to a place where there’s just no compensation. So exactly when that is, I’m not sure.”
Ohtani said he had a pain-relieving shot in his knee during the All-Star break and Friedman confirmed that an MRI was done at that time as well. Ohtani does not expect to be completely pain-free until the offseason but returning to two-way duties is not out of the question.
“If there is something that is going on that prevents him from doing one or the other, then obviously we will respond to that,” Friedman said. “I just don’t think about it that way, other than we want to help him do both for as long as he can, at as high of a level as he can.”
ARM AND ARM
While Glasnow faced hitters in a simulated game on Wednesday afternoon, Snell delivered what is expected to be his final minor league rehab outing for Class-A Ontario.
Glasnow’s next pitching appearance is expected to be at the start of his own minor league rehab assignment.
“I’m over the back thing,” Glasnow said. “… I changed up a couple things (mechanically). I think a lot of it was just due to how I was getting down the mound. Just keeping my hips in a good spot and try not to think about it when I go out there.”
ALSO
With Diaz activated from the IL, left-hander Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment. Barnes last pitched Sunday when he delivered a scoreless inning against the New York Mets. … Shortstop Mookie Betts was placed in the No. 6 spot in the batting order for just the third time this season, with Roberts calling the move “more of a lineup construction decision.” … Right-handed reliever Treinen, who has been out since June 19 with elbow inflammation, threw one simulated inning on Wednesday.
UP NEXT
Mariners (RHP Bryan Woo, 7-7, 4.37 ERA) at Dodgers (RHP Roki Sasaki, 4-5, 4.71 ERA), Thursday, 7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM, 1020 AM