Los Angeles Dodgers Trade Rumors: Tracking Hot Updates, News and Reaction

After an offseason full of moves, the Los Angeles Dodgers may once again be the team to watch as trade season approaches.

Getting to the postseason hasn't been a huge problem in recent seasons for the free-spending Dodgers. Now, they want to take the next step and get to the World Series. Watching their NL West rivals (the San Francisco Giants) win three titles in the past five years has only made their disappointing postseason exits sting a little bit more.

Wanting to be the premier team in their division (and in all of baseball) could lead the Dodgers to be active at the deadline. Whether it's for a high-profile player or a role player, they are sure to be involved in some trade rumors and deals this month.

Keep coming back throughout July to see what rumors the Dodgers are involved in and what deals they make before the trade deadline passes.

*All stats are via MLB.com

Done Deals

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

July 15: Acquired LHP Grant Dayton from the Miami Marlins in exchange for LHP Chris Reed

July 30: Acquired RHP Mat Latos and 1B/OF Michael Morse from the Miami Marlins in exchange for RHP Jeff Brigham, RHP Kevin Guzman and RHP Victor Araujo; Acquired LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Bronson Arroyo, INF Jose Peraza, LHP Luis Avilan and cash from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for INF Hector Olivera, RHP Zachary Bird, LHP Paco Rodriguez and a competitive balance pick

July 31: Traded 1B/OF Michael Morse and cash to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for OF Jose Tabata

July 30: Acquire Mat Latos in 3-Team Deal

Don Boomer/Associated Press

The Los Angeles Dodgers have completed trades with the Miami Marlins and the Atlanta Braves. 

Here are the details of the trade, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

• Dodgers get: RHP Mat Latos, LHP Alex Wood, RHP Jim Johnson, RHP Bronson Arroyo, 1B/OF Michael Morse, INF Jose Peraza, LHP Luis Avilan and cash
• Braves get: INF Hector Olivera, RHP Zachary Bird, LHP Paco Rodriguez and a competitive balance pick
• Marlins get: RHP Jeff Brigham, RHP Kevin Guzman and RHP Victor Araujo 

The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to acquire right-hander Mat Latos, first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse and a competitive balance pick from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor-league players, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald.

Latos went 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA and a 1.245 WHIP in 16 starts this season. After being traded from the Cincinnati Reds to the Marlins this past offseason, the right-hander struggled early on in 2015 but is really in a groove right now. His monthly earned run average has dropped with each passing month, all the way down to 1.80 in July.

Latos has a career 3.43 ERA, including a 3.34 ERA and a 1.314 WHIP in six starts (35 innings) at Dodger Stadium.

When healthy, Latos gives the Dodgers Knee inflammation sent him to the disabled list earlier this season, and he recently dealt with a foot injury that caused him to miss a start. He has also undergone elbow surgery and knee surgery in recent years.

The 27-year-old is in the final year of his contract and will have the opportunity to hit free agency after the season. 

As for Wood, the young pitcher has been impressive early on in his career. He has posted a 3.54 ERA and a 1.408 WHIP in 20 starts this season, which would be considered his worst season of his young three-year career. That's saying something.

Wood has a 3.10 ERA and a 1.267 WHIP in 86 games (55 starts) in his career. He split time between the rotation and the bullpen in each of his first two seasons, but now, the 24-year-old is a full-time starter. He has a 3.09 ERA in 54 career starts.

The 2012 second-round pick wasn't the biggest name on the market, but he's certainly capable of fitting in well in the Dodgers rotation. He is a very talented arm and is controllable through the 2019 season. It's a very good acquisition for the Dodgers.

The 32-year-old Johnson could come in and be a key contributor in the Dodgers bullpen. The veteran reliever has posed a 2.25 ERA and a 1.229 WHIP in 49 outings this year. He has a career 3.45 ERA and once had back-to-back seasons of 50-plus saves.

Los Angeles has been looking to add to an already impressive rotation. Adding Latos and Wood gives the team yet great depth. With Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Latos and Wood, the Dodgers have a rotation that will make it tough for any opposing team come October. 

The Dodgers had to take on a lot of salary in this deal, but there is no doubt that they upgraded their squad in this massive trade. Now, the team just hopes that it shows in the playoffs.

Potential Trade Target: RHP Carlos Carrasco

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

The Dodgers are interested in Cleveland Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark.

Carrasco is 11-8 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.147 WHIP in 21 starts this season.

The 28-year-old may interest Chicago more than the other remaining arms due to the fact that he is under contract for the next few years at a reasonable rate. He is making $2.337 million this season, $4.5 million next year, $6.5 million in 2016 and $8 million in 2017. His contract also includes team options for 2018 ($9 million option or a $662.5 million buyout) and 2019 ($9.5 million option or a $662.5 million buyout).

Potential Trade Target: RHP Yovani Gallardo

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Update: Thursday, July 30 at 2:07 p.m. ET

The market for Texas' Yovani Gallardo is starting to pick up, with CBS Sports' Jon Heyman listing the Blue Jays, Cubs and Dodgers as the teams with the most interest. Both the Giants and Yankees are keeping tabs on the situation.

--End of Update--

The Dodgers and the Texas Rangers have discussed right-hander Yovani Gallardo, according to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi.

Gallardo is quietly having one of the best seasons of his career, posting a 2.91 ERA and a 1.270 WHIP in 20 starts. While his strikeouts per nine innings (6.1) and walks per nine (3.3) are both worse than last season, his hits per nine (8.1) and home runs per nine (0.6) are both significantly lower.

The 29-year-old spent the first eight years of his career in the National League with the Milwaukee Brewers, but switching to the American League hasn't been a problem. That should only enhance his trade value should the Rangers get serious about dealing him.

Gallardo, who is making $14 million this year, will be a free agent after the season.

Trade Candidate: 2B Alex Guerrero

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

The Dodgers are shopping Alex Guerrero as they look to acquire pitching, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.

Guerrero is hitting .245 with 10 home runs, seven doubles and one triple in 72 games this season.

Los Angeles signed Guerrero to a four-year, $25.5 million deal back in 2013. The 28-year-old will make $7.5 million in each of the next two seasons. His contract includes a clause that allows him to be a free agent after this season should he be traded. However, via Rosenthal, Guerrero is willing to waive that right for more money.

Yasiel Puig Is Reportedly Available for 'Right Deal'

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports, the Dodgers have would be willing to trade Yasiel Puig for the "right deal."

Of course, that means the club would only trade the star outfielder for an overwhelming return.

It was just this past weekend that CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reported that Los Angeles had assured Puig he was not going anywhere. It doesn't sound as though the team will be trading him, but if the right trade comes along, the Dodgers will certainly consider it.

Potential Trade Target: RHP Tyson Ross

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The San Diego Padres appear to be looking to sell at the trade deadline after last winter's moves haven't panned out the way the club had hoped. As a result, Tyson Ross is one of the many talented players the team is reportedly considering trading.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that Ross is a "very popular" player on the market, with the Dodgers, the Texas Rangers, the Houston Astros and the Toronto Blue Jays all interested in the right-hander.

Ross enjoyed a breakout year in his first full season as a major-league starter in 2014, posting a 2.81 ERA and a 1.211 WHIP in 31 starts. This year hasn't been quite as good, but he is still having a solid season. In 2015, he has posted a 3.45 ERA and a 1.394 WHIP in 122.2 innings.

Ross has a 2.73 ERA and a 1.273 WHIP in six career games (five starts) at Dodger Stadium.

The 28-year-old Ross, who is making $5.25 million this year, is under club control through the 2017 season.

Potential Trade Target: LHP Cole Hamels

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, the Dodgers have "quietly continued having dialogue" with the Philadelphia Phillies regarding Cole Hamels.

The southpaw is once again having another great season. He has posted a 3.02 ERA with a 1.129 WHIP through his first 17 starts of the season. Since the start of the 2008 season, his earned run average has been above 3.60 just once (4.32 in 2009) and above 3.09 just twice (also had 3.60 ERA in 2013).

The 31-year-old is signed through 2018 at $23.5 million per season and has an option for 2019. Hamels can block a trade to 20 clubs, but the three-time All-Star recently told Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com that he will be "open-minded" about a trade to any team. 

There aren't many pitchers on the market better than Hamels. Johnny Cueto may be the only available who is better than the Phillies ace, but if the Dodgers want a pitcher who is under club control for years to come, Hamels is more attractive in that regard.

Potential Trade Target: RHP Mike Leake

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Los Angeles is interested in Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports,

Per Heyman, Johnny Cueto is the Dodgers' top target if they chase a rental player. However, Leake is a solid option as well and would cost less than his Reds teammate.

The former first-round pick has a career 3.94 ERA, a number he has bested in three of the past four seasons. He has been a back-of-the-rotation guy for most of his career, but he can be a No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher in most rotations.

Leake had a rough stretch in May but rebounded nicely in June. He allowed just nine earned runs in 33 innings through his first five starts of the month, flirting with a no-hitter a couple of times.

The right-hander's overall numbers, mainly his 4.08 ERA, are hurt by a three start-stretch, but his track record speaks for itself. He knows how to get hitters out, proving himself in Great American Ball Park.

Like Cueto, Leake is in the final year of his contract.

Potential Trade Target: LHP Jonathon Niese

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

While the Dodgers may wind up getting seriously involved in talks for aces like Cincinnati Reds right-hander Johnny Cueto and/or Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels, one pitcher they have already been linked to this summer is New York Mets southpaw Jonathon Niese.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the Dodgers have shown interest in Niese.

The 28-year-old Niese has posted a 3.61 ERA and a 1.376 WHIP in 17 starts. The left-hander has made just two starts at Dodger Stadium in his career, allowing five earned runs in 13.2 innings.

Of course, Los Angeles doesn't need to go out and acquire a front-of-the-rotation pitcher. After all, it has Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke anchoring the rotation. Behind those two Cy Young Award winners, Brett Anderson and Mike Bolsinger are having fine seasons.

Overall, the Dodgers rotation ranks fourth in the majors in ERA (3.19). It helps having two aces leading the way, but the fifth spot may be a bit of a hole. Adding a pitcher like Niese would make it so that there is no weak link in the rotation.