Dodgers Trade Deadline Strategy Revealed: LA Avoiding Top Relievers Like Clase, Duran

Dodgers Trade Deadline Strategy Revealed: LA Avoiding Top Relievers Like Clase, Duran originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' trade deadline plan is becoming clearer by the day. While most would assume the team is preparing to outbid other teams in their search for bullpen upgrades, that is not the case, according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

Rosenthal explains that Los Angeles, currently experiencing unpredictability in their pen, does not want to overpay for some of the deadline’s top arms – namely Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase and Twins’ Jhoan Duran.

The Dodgers, who have been snake-bitten by previous deadline deals for relief pitchers, are worried the same could happen this season. Some prospects the team traded away for bullpen upgrades in earlier attempts to go all-in include Yordan Alvarez and Oneil Cruz.

Rosenthal suggests Los Angeles could target lower-leverage relief pitching options and hope to get the most out of them. The insider cites Adam Kolarek, Chris Martin, and Ryan Brasier as previous examples of this plan being successful.

The future of right-hander Dustin May has also come into question in recent weeks. While he could be used as a trade chip to acquire a reliever, Rosenthal reports that Los Angeles’s preference is to trade from their farm system instead of their major league roster.

May, currently utilized as a starting pitcher, is viewed by the team as a potential bullpen option if they cannot secure a trade elsewhere. Although the 27-year-old may balk at the idea of moving to the pen, his 4.73 ERA would not give him much leverage, especially with Blake Snell set to return next week and Roki Sasaki by the end of August.  

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 26, 2025, where it first appeared.