Reddit AMA: Trade Deadline, Dreyer and outfield prospects

July 30th, 2025

With Thursday's 3 p.m. PT Trade Deadline approaching, MLB.com Dodgers beat reporter Sonja Chen took questions from fans in an r/Dodgers AMA on Wednesday. The full conversation can be viewed here, but below is a sampling of the best questions and answers.

Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.

What moves do you anticipate being done before the Trade Deadline approaches?

I would expect the Dodgers to find some way to upgrade the bullpen. I would be a little surprised, though, if they make a really splashy move. Demand for relievers is high for contending teams right now, and I don't see the Dodgers overpaying for a top arm unless they really feel that 1) they need to or 2) this is the best opportunity they'll get to acquire someone they've been targeting.

The thing I like about the Dodgers is that -- and I might be essentializing here -- most of the star players are rather gentle, self-effacing and non-toxic. Do you think this is a conscious thing on the part of management? Is this confident humbleness part of the Dodgers' "company culture?" Do these things matter when they are thinking about who to trade for?

I think this is absolutely something the front office takes into consideration when acquiring players. It's probably easier to figure out how a player might fit into the Dodgers' organizational culture during free agency, but team chemistry is important at any point. It's easier to win with star players, for sure, but having stars also means there are a lot of personalities to manage. When the Dodgers target players who could be a good fit, it certainly goes beyond what they do on the field.

Which Dodger surprised you the most this year, so far?

I'd say , who has been remarkably steady all year long. Part of this is because I honestly didn't have much of an idea of what to expect from him going into the season, and if not for the injuries in the bullpen at the end of Spring Training, he probably wouldn't have made the Opening Day roster. But at this point, it's a fair question to ask where the bullpen with the heaviest workload in the Majors would be without Dreyer.

Which Dodgers prospect are you the most excited/hyped for?

I really liked what I saw from Zyhir Hope (Dodgers' No. 2 prospect) during Spring Training, and it's been fun following how his season has gone. The organization has a great group of outfielders in High-A right now -- Hope, Josue De Paula (No. 1), Mike Sirota (No. 5), Eduardo Quintero (No. 4), Kendall George (No. 11) -- who are all years away, but should be intriguing to watch going forward.

Is the constant demand for more velocity and analysis, if not over-analysis, of pitching over the years, the reason for pitchers not just on the Dodgers but across the league to drop like flies, or is it all just hearsay?

I feel like I can't really properly answer this question in short form, but yes, I think that's a contributing factor. Chasing stuff comes with a higher level of risk, and that can certainly lead to more injuries.

The Dodgers have dug into their recent pitcher injuries. They haven't shared many of their findings, but pitching coach Mark Prior noted earlier this year that a factor they're considering is how pitcher usage changes between the Minors and Majors, including factors such as role, workload and the overall level of competition.

It's a loaded question, but just about every team is looking for the answer.