Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Says Chris Taylor’s Resurgence Doesn’t Affect Trade Deadline Plans

The Dodgers are still in search of a right-handed bat.

The Dodgers have struggled to find right-handed hitters that can consistently produce. Chris Taylor, Trayce Thompson, and Miguel Vargas have all missed time due to either poor performance (as in Vargas' case) or injury (as in Taylor's case) or both (as in Thompsons' case).

For Taylor, a knee injury kept him out of the Dodgers' lineup from mid-June until mid-July. Taylor has made an impact in his return, going 3-for-11 at the plate, highlighted by a booming 416-foot grand slam against the Orioles Monday night to give the Dodgers a lead they would not relinquish.

Chris Taylor is the fourth Dodgers player this year to hit two grand slams.

Taylor
Muncy
Freeman
Outman

https://t.co/LlSkfugxZe

— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) July 18, 2023

Taylor's resurgence from injury is promising for a Dodger team in need of a stable set of right-handed batters, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pointed out the futility of injuries in Major League Baseball.

"Even right now, with where he's at, we're kind of hanging in there with it. It's not something that we can really bank on. I don't think anyone can bank on his health the rest of the season," Roberts said. "But having him back, performing, having the utility that he does have, very helpful."

(Via

The Orange County Register

)

A valuable and versatile defender, if Taylor can continue heating up at the plate, he will prove extremely valuable for a Dodger team in need of consistency.

The trade deadline could shake up the roster, and potentially take at-bats away from Taylor. The Dodgers are searching for a deal for a right-handed batter and have less than two weeks to make a deal. Taylor's return to the lineup helps Roberts and the Dodgers out, but the manager still think "it makes sense" to look for an additional option.

The trade deadline is Aug. 1 and we will almost certainly see plenty of dramatics in the days leading up to perhaps the most pivotal point of the season.