The Los Angeles Dodgers picked confidence over chaos as the 2025 MLB trade deadline ticked by. Even with a rough July and plenty of questions about their roster, they mostly stuck with what they had, making only a couple of minor tweaks.
That restraint says a lot about how much they trust their core group. They seem convinced their big-name lineup will pull it together in time for another postseason run. So, what does this mean for a team chasing back-to-back World Series titles?
The Dodgers Stay Quiet at the Deadline
While other teams scrambled for major shakeups, the Dodgers made just two low-key moves. They brought in reliever Brock Stewart and outfielder Alex Call—solid, but hardly headline material.
The front office clearly believes their offseason work already put them in championship territory. Stewart should help a bullpen that’s been stretched way too thin by injuries. Call adds some flexibility in the outfield, but let’s be honest, nobody thinks he’s a game-changer.
General manager Brandon Gomes doubled down on his faith in the roster’s potential. He actually thinks this core is even stronger than last year’s title-winning squad.
Instead of trading away top prospects for splashy midseason names, the Dodgers chose patience and the talent they’ve nurtured. It’s a gutsy call.
Bettors on Betts, Freeman, and Hernández
The Dodgers are putting their chips on Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Teoscar Hernández to rediscover their spark. It hasn’t been easy—struggles-persist-amid-dodgers-season-challenges/”>Betts has been stuck in a baffling slump, Freeman’s production dipped, and Hernández has struggled to find a rhythm after his injury.
Still, the team is betting nearly $400 million in payroll that these stars will show up when it matters. Even with their struggles, the Dodgers are second in runs scored this season. July, though, was rough—they posted a 91 wRC+, ranking 26th in the league.
That kind of slump raises eyebrows. The front office insists, though, that this lineup, with its track record, can’t be counted out as October approaches.
Pitching Depth in Crisis
It’s not just the offense. The pitching staff’s been battered, too. Injuries have hit hard—Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have all been out or overworked.
That’s left the bullpen to pick up the slack, logging more innings than anyone else in baseball so far. Stewart’s arrival might help, but honestly, it’s the health of their main pitchers that’ll make or break things down the stretch.
Gomes and his staff sound optimistic. They’re banking on the depth they’ve built and hoping injured arms return in time.
Faith in Process Over Panic Moves
By holding onto their top prospects, the Dodgers are signaling a bigger-picture approach. They’re not gutting the farm system for quick fixes.
Instead, they’re trusting development and the talent already in the clubhouse. It’s a risk, but for a team used to the postseason grind, timing really is everything.
Will the Gamble Pay Off?
Dodgers fans have every right to feel uneasy. The offense is stuck, the bullpen’s exhausted, and star players haven’t looked like themselves. That’s enough to make anyone nervous.
Still, this team has built a culture around trust and sticking to their plan. That’s helped them stay in the hunt year after year.
If Betts, Freeman, and Hernández get hot at the plate, and if the pitching staff finally gets healthy, the Dodgers could be a nightmare opponent in October. The window for mistakes is shrinking, though. They’ll need to get it together—fast.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 MLB trade deadline reminded everyone that sometimes sticking with what you’ve got isn’t such a bad idea after all. The Dodgers are rolling the dice on continuity, hoping their best players finally break through when it counts.
Brock Stewart and Alex Call fill a couple of holes for now. But honestly, the real drama is whether the Dodgers’ stars can step up when the pressure’s on.
Everyone talks about blockbuster trades, but maybe this year, holding back is the gutsiest move of all. Who knows—sometimes patience pays off in ways nobody expects.
Here is the source article for this story: Dodgers’ trade deadline was a bet on their stars figuring it out
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