NBC LA Dodgers beat writer Michael Duarte joined Dukes & Bell and talked about the Dodgers needs at the All-Star break and are the Dodgers in play for Home Run Derby champion and Nationals star Juan Soto?
When asked if the Dodgers will be in play for Juan Soto at the trade deadline.
“I was speaking with Scott Boras one on one yesterday, I get a very strong sense that Juan Soto is going to get traded here in the next two weeks, especially if they can find the right deal,” Duarte said. “I don’t think the Dodgers will be in on Juan Soto simply because I don’t see how they can pay half a billion dollars in addition to what they’re gonna be paying Mookie Betts over the next decade, Freddie Freeman over the next half decade, they’re gonna have to resign Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Clayon Kershaw just signed a one year deal who knows what he does this offseason. There’s a lot of other pieces they need and Juan Soto doesn’t really fit a need they have right now.”
Duarte talked about the biggest needs the Dodgers have right now.
“What they do need is potentially another front line starting pitcher, a guy like Frankie Montas in Oakland, who also had a short stint with the Dodgers a long time ago before he was traded to Oakland for Rich Hill famously.
Also Luis Castillo in Cincinnati, who I think is the belle of the ball as far as the trade deadline is concerned, he’s the number one prize that a lot of teams that need starting pitching will be looking at. I think with all the injuries to the bullpen and not knowing what Blake Treinen might be when he comes back, losing Daniel Hudson for the season. I know you guys know him well over there in the NL East from his time with the Nationals as the closer and a World Series closer I might add, he’s done for the year so I think some bullpen help as well is something the Dodgers will be looking at. But it will be interesting because the Dodgers have the big payroll and the prospects to pull a guy like Juan Soto.”
