Deadline deals may be elusive to Dodgers

July 25th, 2019

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers know they need bullpen upgrades one week from the July 31 Trade Deadline. So do teams they’re talking to.

Manager Dave Roberts tried to manage expectations on Wednesday when asked about a possible deal.

“Our front office has shown, if there’s a need, we have no problem addressing it,” Roberts said. “But it’s got to be right for both clubs. Until the 31st, the most important thing for our guys is to focus on winning baseball games.

“For something to line up, the odds are still low, as far as both sides have got to make it work. Not just for the Dodgers, but other teams have to oblige as well.”

The big reliever names the Dodgers have been linked to in recent weeks -- Felipe Vazquez, Shane Greene, Will Smith, Brad Hand -- will cost the kind of prospects this Dodgers management has resisted dealing at past Deadlines.

Obtaining Smith from the Giants has the added hurdle of former Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi now running the Giants and, undoubtedly, needing to get the best of his former boss, Andrew Friedman, to justify any Giants deal that might help their eternal rivals.

“Pitching, you can never have enough of. Any team would say you can always add,” said Roberts. “But there’s always a cost. What you’re losing in the clubhouse. And what you’re gaining has to move the needle. We’re canvassing, and if we land on something that moves the needle, great. If we don’t, then we’re prepared to go forward with this club.”

Injury update: Floro

Reliever Dylan Floro, on the injured list with a sore neck, threw a simulated game against Minor League hitters on Wednesday and told the staff he felt fine.

Roberts said Floro will probably pitch one inning in a Minor League rehab assignment around the end of the week and could be activated in Colorado as early as Monday, the first day he’s eligible to return.

“Sometime that Colorado series makes sense,” Roberts said.