5 Possible Trades the Los Angeles Dodgers Could Make by Aug. 1 Deadline

Get ready for a whirlwind 24 hours.

The MLB trade deadline is set to expire on Monday afternoon and rumors are swirling this weekend as teams in the hunt are looking to add pieces for a playoff push whereas those in the swamp are screaming, "Sell! Sell! Sell!"

That brings us to your Los Angeles Dodgers, the team with the largest payroll in baseball and a front office composed of the best brains in baseball.

Here in this article, we take a look at some of the possible trades the boys in blue might make before Monday's deadline.

1. Jay Bruce from Cincinnati Reds

Bruce highlights the names on this list as the biggest and strongest trade rumor to come out of the weekend. As of Saturday, Bruce was the centerpiece of a three-team trade with the Rays and Reds that would send Bruce to Los Angeles and ship right-fielder Yasiel Puig to the Rays.

#Dodgers, #Reds in ongoing discussions on Jay Bruce deal, sources say. At this point, 2-team scenario is viable, 3-team less likely. @MLB — Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2016

According to Jon Morosi of MLB Network, the three-team trade possibility is losing steam, but a straight up trade between the Dodgers and Reds is still a possibility. LA would like Puig to be included in the deal, whereas Cincinnati is looking for a return of prospects, preferably two or three top ones from the Dodgers' farm system.

2. Chris Sale or Jose Quintana from the Chicago White Sox

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If the Dodgers are looking for a top of the rotation starter at the trade deadline, they need look no further than the Windy City where the White Sox are reportedly sellers at the trade deadline and can deal either Chris Sale or Jose Quintana.

UPDATE: Trade talks surrounding Sale have stalled as of Sunday afternoon. The front office is reportedly turning their attention to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Sale to the Dodgers has some wind behind it (pun intended), but rumors are that the White Sox want Julio Urias and Cody Bellinger included in any deal. That's a lot for LA to give up for a player that just destroyed his teams uniforms because he didn't like the way they looked. LA has a lot of left-handed pitchers, and if the Sox are willing to move Quintana without Urias included in the deal, that seems more plausible for the Dodgers. All of this hinges on the herniated disc of three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw whose timetable is uncertain at the moment. If Kershaw can return this season, the team is less inclined to add another ace, if not, they need to make a move now.

Still think it's unlikely that Chris Sale gets dealt. But FWIW, the Rangers, Orioles, Marlins & Nationals all had scouts at his start Thurs — Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) July 29, 2016

As Jayson Stark reports, competition for the White Sox arms is stiff as the Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals are all interested in both pitchers, rumor has it they both stay in Chi Town.

3. Chris Archer, Matt Moore, Jake Odorozzi or Even Longoria from the Tampa Bay Rays

Of all the potential trade deadline deals the Dodgers could make, this is the one we would put our money behind. We're not insinuating that LA would return all three of the players mentioned, but one, if not two of the three seems likely.

First, it's the fact that the Rays were mentioned as one of the three teams that would have been involved in a three-team trade to get Jay Bruce, most likely included in that deal would be a starting pitcher to the Dodgers. Archer auditioned for the front office on Tuesday and as manager Dave Roberts put it:

"That's the first time I got to see him up close and personal and it makes sense now, it really does."

If that's not a seal of approval from the man in the dugout on a daily basis, we're not sure what is. Friedman was the general manager of the Rays for many years and still has a strong relationship with the front office and it's players. That means, that after casting his fishing net out there for some of the marquee names, if nobody bites, he can certainly place a Monday phone call to Tampa for Archer.

If not Archer, Odorozzi would make a nice consolation prize and great addition to the starting rotation. While not a top of the line starter, he adds a sturdy and consistent arm that could be needed with all the injuries that have struck the Dodgers' starters as of late.

The last piece of this trade is the rumors of Evan Longoria to his hometown of Los Angeles. The Long Beach State product has seen a resurgence at the plate this season, and with current third baseman, Justin Turner, a free agent at the end of the season, LA might be willing to make a move for an All-Star at the hot corner that is under contract through 2022.

UPDATE: After starting pitcher Bud Norris left the game after just 13 pitches with a back injury in his start on Sunday afternoon, the Dodgers' front office has turned their attention to Archer and Matt Moore. The Rays reportedly want Julio Urias in return for any trade for Archer, meaning the Dodgers may opt for Moore. There are still possibilities that would net LA both pitchers.

4. Josh Reddick, Sonny Gray, Rich Hill or Sean Doolittle from A's

If Jay Bruce is plan A for the LA front office, Josh Reddick is plan B. A hard-hitting left-handed outfielder, Reddick with a starting pitcher could be exactly what the Dodgers are looking for at the trade deadline.

According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the A's and Dodgers have talked about the possibility of trading Reddick and a pitcher for prospects. Current Dodgers' general manager, Farhan Zaidi, comes from the Oakland organization and would be in the middle of negotiations between the two teams. The Dodgers are known for their creativity when it comes to making moves, but if the front office can claim Reddick, Doolittle, and either Gray or Hill, they will have addressed all their mid-season needs with one trade and with one team at the deadline.

MLB Rumor Central: A's, Dodgers talking Rich Hill and Josh Reddick https://t.co/QaTpTINilT — Doug Padilla (@DougPadilla) July 29, 2016

5. Carlos Gonzalez from the Colorado Rockies

As of a few hours ago, Wade Davis and Andrew Miller were in this spot of possible trade outcomes for the Dodgers. But, news of Davis undergoing an MRI and the Yankees reportedly keeping Miller moves CarGo into the fifth spot of our rankings. A couple weeks ago, LA native Ryan Braun was rumored to be headed to the City of Angels, but the Dodgers' front office reportedly has their reservations with Braun.

That leaves Gonzalez as a potential outfield bat the boys in blue could add by Monday, especially if talks with the Reds for Bruce and A's for Reddick fall apart. The Rockies have publicly stated they would prefer not to send CarGo to an NL West team, but if the Dodgers included Jose De Leon, Alex Verdugo and another top prospect to sweeten the deal, it would be hard for Colorado to pass up.