The injury bug has hit the Los Angeles Dodgers pretty hard lately. Included in the mix is a standout outfielder. Outside help may be needed, and here are three sneaky 2026 MLB trade deadline targets for the Dodgers to chase.
There’s no reason for the Dodgers to panic. They still clearly have baseball’s best roster. They are built to handle injuries that would tank most teams. But they aren’t impervious to injury damage. And having an abundance of talent helps get through the long summer.
That’s why an under-the-radar addition or two could make a big difference.
RP Kyle Finnegan, Tigers
This is the type of move that makes tons of sense for the Dodgers. They get a guy who has been in the playoffs only one time in his seven MLB seasons. He’s postseason hungry and has a proven ability to close games.
He might not jump off the page as a Dodgers guy stuff-wise, but he can still fit, according to Sports Illustrated.
“On the surface, Finnegan is not the sort of player Los Angeles would typically acquire,” Karl Rasmussen wrote. “He does boast an impressive 2.08 ERA, but he has more walks (24) than strikeouts (22) in 2026. Despite his struggles with command this year, however, he still boasts above-average stuff and has spent plenty of time as a late-inning option with the Nationals and Tigers (113 career saves).
“The 34-year-old seems like the sort of candidate the Dodgers could uncover new potential with their supreme pitching development system and plug him into a bullpen in need of some experience.”
Finnegan has a reasonable contract situation. Also, the Dodgers wouldn’t need to spend much farm-system capital to get him.
The match with the Dodgers is solid. Finnegan would be employed in lower-leverage situations because of the team’s bullpen depth. However, he could provide high-leverage ability.
And here’s the kicker. Sixth-inning work can be as critical as eighth-inning duties in postseason play. Starters often expend more energy in the postseason and may lose some effectiveness at that point in the game. Finnegan would be a great bridge to get up to four outs and set things up for the seventh-inning guy.
RP Kenney Jansen, Tigers
If the Dodgers want a little more teeth to their late-inning bite, Jansen might be a better move than Finnegan.
First, Jansen is still closer material. He’s not what he was during his first stint with the Dodgers. But he’s still a quality reliever. The numbers aren’t outstanding with an ERA over 4.00. But he has 22 strikeouts in 18 innings with nine saves. And a return to the Dodgers might rejuvenate him, according to the New York Post.
“He could be an inexpensive lottery ticket for the Dodgers, who could use a couple of extra arms in the bullpen,” Jack Harris wrote. “The Tigers would probably be content with just unloading what remains of Jansen’s one-year, $11 million deal.
“Jansen’s trademark sinker has averaged 92.5 mph this season, but that’s more or less where it’s been in recent years, including in 2022 when he led the National League in saves with the Braves. Jansen is averaging 11.8 strikeouts per nine innings, his best since that 2022 season.”
Both sides would probably be very happy with this reunion. Jansen pitched with the Dodgers from 2010-2021.
RP Rico Garcia, Orioles
Like a Finnegan deal, this makes sense from a veteran reliever standpoint. Garcia is a journeyman reliever with only four career saves. But he’s still been good this year for the Orioles. He has a 2.70 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings. He might fit with the Dodgers as the price of acquisition wouldn’t be high, according to Bleacher Report.
“Even though he’s 32, his club control elevates his value, but probably not to a point where the Dodgers would have to subtract a top-10 prospect from their No. 1-ranked farm system,” Zachary D. Rymer wrote.
This is yet another case where Garcia could overperform because of postseason hunger. He has kicked around for parts of six MLB seasons. But he hasn’t made a postseason appearance yet. And while that could make him unpredictable, it’s also just as likely to elevate his game. He has shown many signs of being a solid reliever who can maintain his good numbers throughout the season.
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