Dodgers Labeled Best Fit for Royals' Cy Young Finalist Amid Rotation Uncertainty

Dodgers Labeled Best Fit for Royals' Cy Young Finalist Amid Rotation Uncertainty originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' starting pitching rotation has been compromised this season. Despite the plethora of talent on paper and having one of the best records in baseball, the lack of production from their expected starting five is staggering.

Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell, combining to make nearly $350 million, have been on the shelf since April. Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, who was supposed to be the finishing touch to Los Angeles’ rotation, is not expected back until August at the earliest due to a shoulder injury that occurred shortly after rumors about a possible demotion to Triple-A.

While the Dodgers have other needs, mainly in the bullpen, the starting rotation could use some insulation. There is no promise that Glasnow or Snell return to their All-Star levels once back on the mound, and with the threat of injury always a concern, Los Angeles may want to keep a close eye on available starters at the trade deadline.

Bleacher Report’s Joel Rueter recently wrote about the best fits for the top trade chips at this year’s deadline, calling the Dodgers the top landing spot for Kansas City Royals starter Seth Lugo.

“The Dodgers are probably only going to target high-end rotation additions since they already have a number of quality arms, and Lugo fits the bill with a 2.67 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 101 innings a year after finishing runner-up in AL Cy Young balloting. He could be the 2025 version of Jack Flaherty.”

Similar to Flaherty, Lugo is precisely what the Dodgers need. The former Cy Young finalist is a consistent innings-eater who can stabilize Los Angeles' rotation amid injury depletion. Lugo led all of baseball with 33 starts and tossed over 200 innings last season. In 2025, he is on pace for a similar performance, albeit with a lower ERA.

Lugo does have a $15 million player option for 2026, which could complicate things for Los Angeles. However, acquiring Lugo would fortify the Dodgers' pitching staff, allowing them to maintain their lead in the NL West and increase their odds of repeating as World Series champions.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 19, 2025, where it first appeared.