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Dodgers Send Mixed Signals on Trade Deadline Plans

Conflicting public comments and ESPN insider lists could decide whether Los Angeles makes measured roster tweaks or chases a short-term pitcher before the Aug. 3 deadline.

Overview

  • Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said earlier this week that the team is more likely to sell than buy, a public stance that suggests restraint heading into the trade deadline.
  • ESPN insider Jeff Passan included Los Angeles among nine clubs he expects to add aggressively, creating a contrast with Roberts’s comments and raising market expectations for the Dodgers.
  • Reports have linked the Dodgers to left-hander Tarik Skubal as a potential target, but analysts note the club’s preference for longer-term fits and its ability to pursue him in free agency as reasons to hesitate.
  • Coverage of the team points to a repeat of the post-2021 strategy of targeted, smaller deadline moves—acquisitions that reinforce depth rather than costly short-term rentals.
  • How the Dodgers act before the Aug. 3 deadline could shift the playoff picture, with the likely outcome being measured additions that preserve long-term roster construction while addressing immediate needs.