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Zach Pressnell is a Newsweek contributor based in Columbus, Ohio. His focus is MLB content. He has an extensive knowledge of professional baseball and all things that come with it after working closely with the sport for years. Zach has been with Newsweek since November 2024 and previously worked at FanSided and OnSI. He is a graduate of Bethany College (WV). You can get in touch with Zach by emailing z.pressnell@newsweek.com.
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Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers were very aggressive in the offseason, opting to sign a lot of top-end talent. Injuries have derailed a record-breaking season for Los Angeles, but the talent is still there.
With that in mind, the Dodgers didn’t do as much as many expected at the trade deadline. Instead of trading for big names, the Dodgers decided to sit back and let their players get healthy.
But they still made a few under-the-radar moves.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter recently called the Dodgers’ pickup of Alex Call one of the “sneaky good” pickups at the trade deadline.
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 03: Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after scoring a run in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner…
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 03: Alex Call #12 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with Mookie Betts #50 after scoring a run in the ninth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field on August 03, 2025 in Tampa, Florida.
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“Call quietly excelled in a part-time role with the National last season, hitting .343/.425/.525 for a 169 OPS+ over 113 plate appearances, and he is having another productive season as a role player,” Reuter wrote. “The 30-year-old is batting .314/.359/.443 in 81 plate appearances against left-handed pitching this year, but it’s not out of the question to think he could carve out a bigger role with a hot start in Los Angeles and siphon off some playing time from Michael Conforto.
“He ranks among the MLB leaders in chase rate (97th percentile) and whiff rate (86th percentile), and a healthy 11.0 percent walk rate and .371 on-base percentage help offset his lack of power.”
Call fits a role with the Dodgers perfectly. He’s put up good numbers this season, albeit in a short sample size, and he put up good numbers last season. The 30-year-old is a solid defensive outfielder, and he plays his role well.
The Dodgers didn’t need an everyday outfielder. Call fits the team perfectly.
To make matters better, the outfielder is under team control through the 2029 season.
More MLB: Red Sox Predicted To Use Top-100 Prospect As Offseason Trade Bait