The October Holes: Why Front Office Fear Could Sink This Year's Contenders
AI-generated image · US National Wire
From the Yankees' void at catcher to the Dodgers' fragile rotation, the trade deadline is the only cure for the glaring weaknesses threatening the game's heavy hitters.
Listen, I've seen enough of this game to know that fancy projections and early-season win streaks are just noise if you're walking into October with a sinking ship. We're two weeks out from the trade deadline, and while the standings look settled on paper, the reality is that most of these so-called contenders are playing a dangerous game of chicken with their own rosters. If these front offices are too timid to plug the holes now, they aren't winning a ring.
**OPINION:** In my book, the talent is out there, but the nerve is missing. You can't coast into the postseason praying for health; you have to buy the insurance now.
As Sports Illustrated first reported, the Los Angeles Dodgers are currently the class of the league with a 63–37 record, but their rotation is a house of cards. The club is dealing with a staggering amount of lost talent, with starting pitchers Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow all residing on the 60-day IL. Even Shohei Ohtani has dealt with a knee issue that cost him his final start before the break. While the Dodgers could theoretically field a powerhouse rotation featuring Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Snell, and Glasnow, Sports Illustrated notes that the latter two aren't known for their reliability. The outlet suggests that while Roki Sasaki or Emmet Sheehan are options, a move for Tarik Skubal would be the smart play to secure the rotation.
Over in the NL Central, the Milwaukee Brewers are defying the odds at 62–37, but they're missing a true veteran stopper. Sports Illustrated reports that the rotation needs a boost after it was announced that Brandon Woodruff requires another shoulder surgery. While the Brewers have seen success from Kyle Harrison and a Cy Young-caliber performance from Jacob Misiorowski, the reporting notes that recently acquired Lance McCullers Jr. is no longer the reliable force he was during the 2017 World Series. After trading Freddy Peralta in the offseason, the Brewers are left searching for an ace with big-game experience to lead a staff that currently ranks second in the league with a 3.38 ERA.
Then you have the Atlanta Braves, who are clinging to the NL East lead while their pitching depth evaporates. Sports Illustrated points out that the Braves' starters have a combined 3.97 ERA, ranking ninth in MLB, but the injury list is growing. Spencer Schwellenbach and Spencer Strider are on the 60-day IL, Martín Pérez is on the 15-day IL, and AJ Smith-Shawver is recovering from Tommy John surgery. The reporting emphasizes that Atlanta needs to add mid-rotation starters to avoid being overrun by the Phillies.
In the American League, the Tampa Bay Rays hold the best record in the league, but they're anemic when it comes to power. Sports Illustrated highlights a glaring lack of slugging, with the team ranking 26th in home runs (98) and 16th in slugging (.399). Only four regulars have a slugging percentage above .400, and Junior Caminero is essentially carrying the offense alone with 28 home runs. Without additional power, the Rays are a one-man show in the long ball department.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs are facing a rotation crisis that Sports Illustrated describes as "snakebitten." The club has seen top starters Justin Steele and Cade Horton both sidelined by Tommy John surgery. With Edward Cabrera and Jameson Taillon also on the IL, the Cubs are left with only Colin Rea and Shota Imanaga as active pitchers with 10 or more starts. A late-May acquisition of David Peterson hasn't helped, as he has struggled with an 8.16 ERA over three starts. The Cubs' collective 4.42 ERA ranks 20th in the league, making a deadline addition a necessity.
Finally, the New York Yankees are staring at a black hole behind the plate. While the team is waiting on the return of Aaron Judge, Sports Illustrated reports that catcher Austin Wells is enduring a brutal campaign. In 67 games, Wells has posted a .152 batting average and a .153/.244/.255 slash line, accompanied by a 41 wRC+, six home runs, and 13 RBIs. For a team with World Series aspirations, having a catcher performing at that level is a liability they can't afford to ignore.