The MLB trade deadline always features World Series contenders making big moves in the hopes of increasing their odds. The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the heavyweights that will be scouring the markets for upgrades. Perhaps, though, they may not look as intently as other contenders.

While other teams like the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies could look to make a big splash, the Dodgers may not feel as much pressure to treat this season as a title-or-bust type of campaign, according to Buster Olney of ESPN.

Olney writes the following: “Interestingly, some execs with other teams don't have the same feeling about the Dodgers, who committed hundreds of millions of dollars last winter. ‘If they don't win the World Series this year,’ one official said, posing a rhetorical question, ‘does anyone think their window changes? They'll be right back next year with [Shohei] Ohtani, [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto, Mookie [Betts], maybe [Roki] Sasaki, if they sign him. They're in a better position moving forward with their roster than the Yankees or Phillies.’”

Could Dodgers take more conservative approach at 2024 MLB trade deadline?

The 203-24 offseason was certainly an all-time offseason for the Dodgers. Landing Ohtani, Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow was big-time and adding Teoscar Hernandez has paid off, too. With their depth for both position players and pitchers, they are pretty much set to make a run for the championship.

But for the Dodgers to just take it easy at the trade deadline because of their great offseason would be a disservice to all that work they did to add more talent. They didn’t come this far just to get this far, right? Their roster is amazing but not perfect.

The Dodgers may look to bring James Outman back up to the big leagues after his demotion but they could use an outfielder. They may want to look for an infielder if Gavin Lux keeps struggling and they aren’t sold on Miguel Rojas or Kiké Hernandez being a full-time starter. It also wouldn’t hurt to make sure their bullpen has enough depth behind Evan Phillips, Ryan Yarbrough and Alex Vesia.

Does LA need to make any major swings at the deadline? No, because the core of the team is already in place (and very elite). But championships aren’t won in the offseason. The Dodgers should feel pressured to make any tweaks they can to make sure they capture the championship. Getting ahead of it before waiting until the pressure really starts mounting is sure to offer more upside.

The Yankees' pressure to contend comes from Juan Soto's expiring contract. They have to show him that New York is worth spending the rest of his career (or at least his prime years) there. While the Phillies don't have any major free agents to worry about, they have spent too many resources to not treat every season as a legitimate shot to win it all. The Dodgers will have plenty of foes to contend against.