Dodgers' Performance and Potential Trades at Deadline
Bobby Valentine criticizes the Dodgers' 2026 performance, noting their early inconsistencies despite a star-studded lineup. They still lead the NL West.
Video Transcript
So let's go over to one of your teams, though, the Dodgers here.
How do you think they're playing so far this year, Bobby?
mediocre.
And, they're just so talented, they can win a lot of games.
And you know, they, they've been relatively healthy.
you know, they missed Mookie a while, and, now Ohtani has a situation that is going to be really scrutinized, the left knee, the landing knee on his, when he's pitching.
So, maybe it's just the back of the hamstring, maybe it's a knee.
I- I'm not sure exactly what it is.
But, you know, if they stay healthy, they're gonna win their division, and they win their division, then, you know, those pitchers will, try to dominate in the playoffs.
They're, they're a really good team.
Not playing that well, but a really good team.
You think they're gonna make moves on the August 3rd trading deadline?
I mean, Skubal's name is out there.
Chapman's name is also out there.
And again, it's just a wealth of riches right now that the Dodgers have.
But could you see Andrew Freeman making a move, close to the trading deadline?
Yeah, I could see them getting a, a closer like Chapman, someone that, you know, could lock it down.
Because, you know, their, their offense isn't giving them a lot of space in, in some of these games and they're gonna, they're gonna need to win those one-run games in order to, sustain that, championship edge.
But, but they're really good.
They're You know, when you have that much talent on the field, you know, it, it's fun to go to the ballpark every day.
Absolutely.
If you're looking at the two teams in Chicago, Bobby, who are you buying more, the Sox or the Cubs this year?
Oh, I think the Cubs will, will come out.
The Sox have had a nice run, but, you know, to sustain that after, being where they've been the last few years, I think it's, it's really tough, you know?
It's, it's magical right now, but, you know, the magic wears off and, and the talent's, I think, just a little too immature.
Absolutely.
Bobby, what do you, why do you think the American League, there's only a handful, less than a handful of teams that are above 500, why do, why do you think that side of the league is struggling so much?
Well, they're not very good teams.
you know, the, the, the complete team really isn't, isn't out there.
Aaron Judge is on the DL for who knows how long with the Yankees.
And, you know, the, the other teams, the Rays, and the, the, you know, the Indians, and, excuse me, the Guardians, and, you know, the Oakland A's, they're, they're incomplete teams.
So, y- you know, I think it's going to be a second half, league, where, that second half of the season, whoever gets hot, whoever has that 14 out of 16, win streak, there in the second half is going to go to the playoffs and maybe even carry it into the playoffs if, if the streak is late enough.
Bobby, couple last questions here for you.
June 13th, are you surprised that the Tampa Bay Rays are in first place right now?
Again, as you mentioned, Judge is out, so the Yankees have kind of wobbled in that lineup a tad.
But are you shocked that the Rays are still in first place in the AL East as they head west?
Yeah, how I didn't mention them, I don't know.
you know, it's the best organization in baseball.
That's simple.
they've done it consistently and, and they've done it, magically year in and year out, so I'm not surprised that they're in, in first place.
But, I, I don't think that that's the overwhelming group of players that's going to, win a world championship either.
Absolutely here.
Finally here.
Bobby, you think Seattle, 30 seconds here, you think Seattle is getting their sea legs now?
They're starting to rally back around.
They're heading to, they're leading the West right now.
They struggled out of the gate.
Do you believe that they found their sea legs?
The most talented team, that's for sure.
And, you know, I think they found, Rodriguez, swinging the bat the way he can, and, and that healthy pitching staff.
you know, they, they have the most talent and, it's not always the, the most talented team that, wins, but, the team that plays the best, and now they're playing a pretty decent brand of baseball also.
