Dodgers Analysis: Friedman Thinks He Already Has the Horses to Win it All
LOS ANGELES — By all appearances, the 2025 trade deadline came and went with little fanfare for the Los Angeles Dodgers. In an era when fans expect fireworks and blockbuster deals, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman took a far more measured approach. While the rest of the league scrambled for reinforcements, the Dodgers made just a few low-profile moves—adding reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call, while parting ways with James Outman and Dustin May.
And that’s it.
For a team with championship aspirations, this quiet deadline might seem underwhelming. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear: Friedman isn’t punting on 2025—he’s doubling down on what he already has. The Dodgers’ front office is betting big that reinforcements are already on the way from within.
A Roster About to Reinvent Itself
Friedman’s approach hinges on one key belief: that the team’s true trade deadline acquisitions are the names already under contract but currently sidelined. In the coming weeks, the Dodgers expect to welcome back a slew of impact players: relievers Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech, slugger Max Muncy, and Cy Young winner Blake Snell, who has yet to throw a pitch this summer in Dodger Blue. There’s also utility man Kiké Hernández and infielder Hyeseong Kim working their way back. And looming in the background is the tantalizing (if uncertain) possibility of Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki joining the roster down the stretch.
Friedman’s calculus is clear. Why give up prospect capital or overpay in a seller’s market when you’re already sitting on a wave of reinforcements?
Moving Pieces: Outman and May Depart
In exchange for Stewart, a bullpen arm with a high-upside fastball-slider combo, the Dodgers dealt struggling outfielder James Outman to the Twins. Once a rising star, Outman never quite regained his rookie form. In a separate move, Dustin May—once considered a future ace—was shipped to the Red Sox in a deal that netted an outfield prospect.
The moves are emblematic of the team’s broader strategy: retooling around the edges while making room for the return of more impactful pieces.
Is It Enough?
The big question, of course, is whether this will be enough. Betting on internal reinforcements is always a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Health is never guaranteed. Performance isn’t either. Blake Snell hasn’t pitched all year. Max Muncy’s bat brings power but also streakiness. Kopech and Treinen are coming off injuries. And Sasaki? That’s still a lottery ticket.
But Friedman isn’t flying blind. He knows the Dodgers are already stacked at the top, with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman anchoring the lineup and a rotation led by Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. This team has the bones of a champion. The logic is simple: bolster the bullpen, keep the offense afloat, and let the injured stars rejoin in time to mount a serious October run.
It’s also worth noting that this year’s trade market was unusually thin. Cost-controlled stars like Steven Kwan were simply out of reach. The prices were high, and the rewards uncertain. In that context, standing pat makes more sense—especially if you believe your best team is the one waiting in the wings.
A Familiar Formula
This isn’t the first time the Dodgers have bet on internal options. In 2020, they acquired Mookie Betts before the season, but made no major trade deadline splash. That team ended up winning it all.
Friedman is clearly hoping for history to repeat itself.
“We like our group,” GM Brandon Gomes said last week. “I would argue it’s better than the team that won the World Series last year.”
That’s a bold claim—but it’s also a clear window into the team’s mindset. The Dodgers believe they’re built to win now. They just need to get healthy.
Final Thoughts
Some fans may be disappointed. Some will point to the Astros, Mariners, or Padres making bigger splashes. But if the Dodgers get even 80% of what they’re hoping for from Treinen, Snell, Muncy, Kopech, and (maybe) Sasaki, this team becomes terrifying down the stretch.
Friedman didn’t mortgage the future. He didn’t panic. He didn’t overpay.
He placed his bet on the roster he’s already built—and the reinforcements about to return.
Now we wait to see if that bet pays off in October.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
