BOSTON \u2014 The Los Angeles Dodgers have made relief pitching their main priority during this deadline period, downplaying concerns about their lineup by expressing confidence that slumping stars Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez will find their footing and that Max Muncy\u2019s eventual return to the lineup will stabilize things.<\/p>\n
That, however, is not preventing them from seeking out a bat. The Dodgers are scoping out the market for potential outfield upgrades, league sources told The Athletic, seeking to deepen a lineup that carried them to a World Series title last October.<\/p>\n
The ideal would be to add a left-handed-hitting outfielder, a league source said, though adding a solid glove to deepen their position player group \u2014 such as the Minnesota Twins\u2019 Harrison Bader \u2014 could also fit as the Dodgers seek upgrades. The Dodgers have shot high so far in the market, expressing interest in St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Brendan Donovan, multiple league sources said.<\/p>\n
The thinking is not too dissimilar from what drew the Dodgers to Michael Conforto this past winter, hoping to add to a clear club strength. Conforto, who signed a one-year, $17 million deal, has not worked out, entering Friday with a .185 batting average and a .617 OPS, worst and sixth worst among qualified hitters in the majors.<\/p>\n
Conforto has shown some slight improvement over the past month, producing a .683 OPS since the start of July before adding a double in four at-bats against the Boston Red Sox in Friday\u2019s 5-2 win. But with him, just about all of his value comes from his bat, forcing him into a particular role he isn\u2019t executing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve shown my confidence in him \u2014 playing him, where I hit him in the order,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week. \u201cSo, I don\u2019t know. I\u2019m just going to kind of keep running him out there and expect him to be productive. And I hope that\u2019s where his head is at, but for me, it\u2019s kind of the guys that we have and show confidence. And I believe in Michael. I\u2019ve had many times to sit him, but I\u2019ve played him, and I think that it\u2019s still in there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Still, that faith may be waning as more time passes without production.<\/p>\n
Donovan doesn\u2019t directly address the team\u2019s outfield pursuit, though he has played 18 games this year in left field and 186 career games in the outfield. However, having Donovan solidify second base means the Dodgers could be free to have Tommy Edman mostly play in center field, with Andy Pages moving to a corner outfield position.<\/p>\n