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Andrew Friedman has acknowledged what many of us have been thinking for a while now: the Dodgers are going to have to move some of their outfield prospects. Per DodgerBlue.com, Friedman suggested that dealing from the organization’s impressive collection of outfield talent will become a necessity, whether it’s to land a marquee piece like Tarik Skubal or to address roster and organizational depth on the margins.

This isn’t surprising when you look at the logjam. The Dodgers have built one of the deepest outfield prospect pipelines in baseball over the past few drafts, and there simply aren’t enough roster spots to accommodate all of them. At some point, surplus value only matters if you convert it into something the big league club needs. Friedman has always operated this way — stockpile talent, then leverage it at the right moment. We’ve seen him do it before with pitching prospects, and now it’s the outfield group’s turn.

The timing here matters. We’re at the trade deadline, and the Dodgers have been linked heavily to Skubal, with multiple reports over the past week suggesting a deal is expected. Any package for a pitcher of Skubal’s caliber would almost certainly require parting with at least one — probably more — of these outfield prospects. Detroit would want impact talent coming back, and the Dodgers have it to give.

What makes Friedman’s comments notable is the directness. He’s not dancing around it. He’s essentially telling the fan base (and maybe the rest of the league) that these guys are available. That’s a signal. When Friedman gets this transparent, it usually means conversations are advanced enough that he’s comfortable setting expectations publicly.

Beyond a potential Skubal blockbuster, there are smaller deals where outfield depth could grease the wheels — a backup catcher acquisition, bullpen help, a bench piece. The Dodgers have been connected to all of those in recent days. Having a deep farm system means you can address multiple needs simultaneously without gutting your pipeline entirely.

For us, this is the cost of competing at the highest level every single year. You develop talent, and then you spend it to win. The Dodgers are in a position where their major league outfield is set with Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández, and Andy Pages producing, so prospects in that position group become the most logical trade currency. I’d rather trade from a position of surplus than give up pitching depth we can’t afford to lose, especially with Shohei Ohtani shut down from the mound and Tyler Glasnow still working his way back.

The next 24 hours or so should be telling. Friedman has the chips, and he’s made it clear he’s ready to push them into the middle of the table. Whether it’s for Skubal or a collection of smaller moves, the outfield prospect group is going to look different by the time the deadline passes.

Source(s): Staff (DodgerBlue.com) | First reported: July 31, 2026 1:07 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers