CHICAGO, IL – JULY 04: Riley O’Brien #61 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches during the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Saturday, July 4, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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The St. Louis Cardinals may make the Los Angeles Dodgers even stronger.
The Dodgers have more wins than any team in Major League Baseball.
There is little debate the Dodgers have complete and impressive roster.
There is an old saying in baseball, that a team can never have enough pitching.
Trading with the St. Louis Cardinals might even improve the already mighty Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers Could Get A Boost For Their Bullpen:
Even the Dodgers could look to fortify a rotation that has suffered injuries and a bullpen that could always welcome an injection of new blood.
Enter Detroit Tigers All Star lefty, Tarik Skubal. There is great speculation the Dodgers will trade for Skubal before, or at the August 3 trade deadline.
That would make sense.
But due to an injury riddled bullpen, the Dodgers need more than Skubal in the pitching department.
Right-handed St. Louis Cardinals closer, Riley O’Brien is a name to watch as the trade deadline approaches.
O’Brien, 31, has a career high 22 saves already this year for St. Louis.
About Los Angeles Dodgers Potential Trade Target:
Riley O’Brien is a tall, lanky 6-4, 180 pounds.
O’Brien was an 8th round selection of the Tampa Bay Rays out of the College of Idaho, in Caldwell, Idaho.
O”Brien received a $7,500 signing bonus from the Rays.
After attending high school in Shoreline, Washington, O’Brien initially went to Everett Community College, but transferred to College of Idaho, where he pitched for one season.
O’Brien spent only one at College of Idaho, where he appeared in 20 games, with 14 of them being in relief. He threw to a 2.15 ERA, and 1.09 WHIP, in 67 innings.
In 2020, the Rays traded O’Brien to the Cincinnati Reds.
In 2022, the Reds traded O’Brien to the Seattle Mariners.
In 2023, O’Brien was purchased by the St. Louis Cardinals from the Mariners.
Such is the life of a professional baseball player.
O’Brien made his major league debut with the Reds on September 28, 2001.
O’Brien has pitched the last three seasons with the Cardinals.
Now, he may be on the move again.
Solid relievers are always in demand, and the Dodgers could be an ideal landing spot.
At this point in his career. O’Brien has only 1.129 of Major League Baseball service time.
As si.com stated, “ O’Brien has four years of club control left, so that alone makes him a good trade chip. He also can reach 100 mph with his fastball.”
If a team like the Dodgers trades for O’Brien, they will be getting a solid reliever who isn’t eligible for free agency until 2031. He won’t be eligible for his first year of arbitration until 2028, which makes O’Brien an attractive trade piece.
St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O’Brien celebrates after getting Miami Marlins’ Javier Sanoja to ground out for the final out of a baseball game Sunday, June 28, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Riley O’Brien has a very simple, basic repertoire.
O’Brien uses a two pitch mix; a sinker, and a slider.
That isn’t unusual for a high-leverage reliever.
brooksbaseball.net lists O’Brien’s inking fastball at 98.21 miles per hour. He throws his slider at 81.92 miles per hour.
He uses his fastball on 76.92% of his pitches.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 04: The jersey of Edwin Diaz #3 of the Los Angeles Dodgers with the USA 250 patch hangs in the locker room at Dodger Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ryan Sun/Getty Images)
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Why The Los Angeles Dodgers would be helped by Riley O’Brien:
The Dodgers bullpen is currently anchored by left-handed reliever, Tanner Scott.
The team has six relievers currently on the Injured List. The list includes veterans like Edwin Diaz, Brusdar Graterol, Bobby Miller, and Blake Treinen.
They need a fresh, credible arm to bolster their injured bullpen.
The team has been using right-hander, Edgardo Henriquez, and lefty Alex Vesia as their primary set-up relievers.
Henriquez, 24, is relatively inexperienced. In fact, he has 0.164 service time.
Sure, the Los Angels Dodgers have All World All Star Shohei Ohtani, and a host of other stars, but as baseball experts say, pitching wins ballgames.
So, if the trade price is right for both clubs, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Los Angeles Dodgers line up to have the potential for a trade that can clearly boost both clubs.
In May, mlbtraderumors.com indicated, “O’Brien’s success is a big reason why the Cardinals are playing a bit above their heads right now.”
The team is still playing well, and Riley O”Brien is part of the success.
It makes perfect sense for the St. Louis Cardinals to trade Riley O”Brien to the Los Angeles Dodgers.