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Despite widespread expectation that Alex Call and Eric Lauer would be moved before Monday’s 3 p.m. PT trade deadline, the Dodgers held onto both players — and per Dodger Blue, the front office “feels great” about the decision. The team was plenty active in the final hours leading up to the deadline (we know that firsthand after the Skubal blockbuster and a flurry of smaller moves), but Call and Lauer staying put was a deliberate choice, not an oversight.

Call has been one of those quietly useful pieces all season — the kind of outfielder who doesn’t generate headlines but fills a role the Dodgers genuinely need. He’s a lefty-hitting option with solid defensive versatility across all three outfield spots, and his ability to grind out at-bats and get on base makes him a real asset on a roster that cycles through injuries the way ours does. With the Dodgers’ outfield depth tested repeatedly this year, keeping Call around as a reliable fourth or fifth outfielder makes more sense than flipping him for a marginal return. He’s the kind of guy you’re glad you have in September and October when rosters expand and every bench spot matters.

Lauer is the more interesting hold. He’s a veteran lefty starter who’s been bouncing between the rotation and bullpen, and with the Dodgers’ pitching depth constantly in flux, having a starter-capable arm available is valuable insurance. We just saw him slotted in to start Wednesday against the Cubs, which tells you the team views him as more than just a warm body — they see him as a functional rotation option when needed. Lauer has been around the block with the Padres and Brewers, and he knows the NL West. His stuff isn’t electric, but he competes and eats innings, which is exactly what a contending team needs from its depth arms down the stretch.

I think this is the right call on both fronts. The Dodgers already shipped out several pieces in the Skubal deal and the various smaller acquisitions over the past few days. At some point, you have to stop thinning the roster and keep the guys who help you win games in August and September. Trading Call or Lauer might have netted a low-level prospect or two, but the in-season value of both players — especially on a team dealing with injuries to Will Smith and Dalton Rushing and the general churn of a 162-game season — outweighs whatever modest return they’d bring back.

The bigger picture here is that the Dodgers’ deadline strategy was clearly about making one massive swing (Skubal) and then reinforcing around the edges with the Rortvedt, Bubic, and Feduccia pickups. Keeping Call and Lauer fits that philosophy. The front office loaded up where it mattered most — top-of-the-rotation pitching — and chose depth and flexibility everywhere else. That’s a smart way to build a postseason roster, and it’s why this group continues to position itself as the team to beat in October.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: August 4, 2026 2:31 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers