Dodgers Linked to Gregory Soto, Bautista, Duran, Jax and More amid MLB Trade Rumors

The Los Angeles Dodgers could use some help.

After starting the season 56-32, the Dodgers find themselves in a 2-10 slump, with pitching depth yet again proving to be an issue as injuries mount. That has made the team an obvious buyer ahead of the MLB trade deadline on July 31.

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, "The Dodgers hope their starting pitchers continue to get healthy, and with most of them trending in that direction, it appears they will focus on bullpen help at the deadline. They've been linked to the Minnesota Twins' Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax, the Baltimore Orioles' Félix Bautista and Gregory Soto, and the Washington Nationals' Kyle Finnegan. The Dodgers will be open to also adding a utility player to help fill in the gaps left by their injured players, including third baseman Max Muncy, who is making progress in his recovery from a knee injury."

The Dodgers weren't planning to need upgrades in the bullpen. They signed closer Tanner Scott to a four-year, $72 million contract in the offseason, only to watch him post a 4.00 ERA and blow seven saves in 26 opportunities this season. They also signed Kirby Yates to a one-year, $13-million contract, and while he's been better than Scott (3.94 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, two blown saves in four chances), he's also taken a major step back this season. Both Scott and Yates were All-Stars last year.

So the Dodgers are expected to be players in the bullpen market ahead of the trade deadline as they look to stabilize a season that has suddenly gotten rocky. Given their recent history of aggressively pursuing upgrades through both trades and free agency, they'll almost assuredly land one of the top options available.