According to Fabian Ardaya and Katie Woo of The Athletic, the Dodgers are showing interest in outfielder. Among the teams that have made inquiries about the righty-swinging outfielder are the Rangers and Phillies. Philadelphia has been interested since the previous deadline. Call, who was with the Nationals at the time, was traded to the Dodgers for minor league righties Sean Paul Linan and Eriq Swan.
Call, 31, has a season-long batting average of.246/.355/.314. In 1146 major league plate appearances with the Guardians, Nationals, and Dodgers, he had a lifetime average of.243/.343/.364. But his main selling point is obscured by that unremarkable statement. With a slash of.326/.418/.457 versus left-handed pitchers in 2026 and.278/.358/.432 since the 2023 season, Call is a complete annoyance to these pitchers. In his first year of arbitration as a Super Two player, he is only making $1.6 million this season. He will be controlled by the club for three more seasons, until 2029.
Naturally, Los Angeles isn’t selling before this year’s deadline, but they have been keeping an eye on a few veterans, including Call and southpaw Eric Lauer, who might be cut from their final playoff squad. With Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman, and Enrique Hernandez all missing time at different periods during the season, Call’s position on the Dodgers roster has been restricted. After the latter’s reinstatement from the IL on Wednesday, all three are currently in good health. Call has only appeared to the plate seven times since the All-Star break and hasn’t done so in the last five days. It will be difficult for him to get playing time in the future.
Due to center fielder Evan Carter’s persistent difficulties versus southpaws, the Rangers are searching for a righty to assist in the outfield. Call has better-than-average stats at each of the three outfield positions and can play all three. He would make sense for a Texas team looking to improve, but ownership allegedly has very little payroll flexibility before this summer’s deadline. In their other trade thus far, the Rangers have acquired two inexpensive players: Angels catcher Logan O’Hoppe and righty Chase Silseth. Silseth is not yet qualified for arbitration. O’Hoppe makes $2.625 million.
The Phillies are a luxury tax payer that is now in the highest tier of penalization, but they are not subject to the same financial restrictions. They will pay a 110% tax in addition to the remaining salary of any players they purchase. They would undoubtedly be drawn to Call’s low pay, and this kind of player is obviously needed on the squad.
Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, and Gabriel Rincones Jr. make up Philadelphia’s all-left-handed outfield right now. After Adolis Garcia and Johan Rojas suffered season-ending injuries, they are using journeymen Derek Hill, Bryan De La Cruz, and utilityman Edmundo Sosa as righty alternatives off the bench. However, Hill has performed better against other righties than against southpaws, and Sosa is having the worst season of his career.Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, and Gabriel Rincones Jr. make up Philadelphia’s all-left-handed outfield right now. After Adolis Garcia and Johan Rojas suffered season-ending injuries, they are using journeymen Derek Hill, Bryan De La Cruz, and utilityman Edmundo Sosa as righty alternatives off the bench. However, Hill has performed better against other righties than against southpaws, and Sosa is having the worst season of his career.
