If you haven’t been paying too much attention this season to the Dodgers, whether you’re a fan or not, its not too far-fetched to say that the Dodgers have some concerns going into the All-Star break and trade deadline.

The most important concern heading closer to the trade deadline is pitching, but it wouldn’t hurt the Dodgers to also look to add some depth to their lineup as well, or someone who is above average defensively.

Now that Andrew Heaney has returned to the injury list and reliever Daniel Hudson is out for the year with a torn ACL, the Dodgers pitching staff has taken more hits. Also, Walker Buehler isn’t anywhere near returning at this point and this IL list includes Caleb Ferguson, Tommy Kahnle, Victor Gonzalez, Blake Treinen, and Danny Duffy who has yet to play a game for Los Angeles since being acquired by the team via trade in 2021.

Now, I understand most of the pitchers mentioned above are relievers, but an arm is an arm, and the Dodgers are still without Dustin May who is getting closer and closer to returning from Tommy John surgery. So should the Dodgers be looking to add an arm via trade and who should it be?

Although the Dodgers are about 19 games over .500, they are only barely in the division lead with the Padres right on their tail having a great year and the Giants 6.5 games back as well. Both teams will most likely be looking to add at the trade deadline so yes, I believe the Dodgers will need to add a starter at the deadline and look to add a reliever to get through the year and re-claim the NL West throne.

The two names being brought up the most are Frankie Montas of the Oakland A’s and Luis Castillo of the Cincinnati Reds. Both are having solid years, Montas has an ERA of 3.21 and Castillo has an ERA of 3.71. These two starting pitchers won’t only have the Dodgers interested in them but other teams will likely be interested in acquiring one of the two with their already being reports that the New York Yankees are interested in Castillo.

Both will most likely come at a hefty price. Dodgers Nation goes into depth on the two starters, skip to 5:00.

As we get closet to the deadline, we will start hearing about more pitchers and players on the Dodgers radar whether it involves adding another bat or pitcher to the staff.

It will be interesting to see how Andrew Friedman and the front office attack this year’s trade deadline but one thing we know for sure is that they won’t be expected to sit quietly and let the other contenders around them make moves and gear up for a postseason run.