Trade partner: Chicago White Sox Targets: RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Kendall Graveman, SS Tim Anderson

The Dodgers have the second-best record in the National League, but they understand they’ll probably be in a pennant race until the bitter end with the Diamondbacks and Giants, and maybe even the Padres if they get hot. The Dodgers have a pressing need to improve their pitching staff, both the rotation and the bullpen. Their starters rank ninth in the NL in collective ERA and their bullpen ranks 10th. The Dodgers also could use an upgrade at shortstop. They are an obvious trade match with the White Sox, who have players to fit all three needs.

Giolito will be a free agent after this season, and the White Sox are going to move him by the deadline. He struggled in his last outing against the Mets, allowing eight runs in 3 2/3 innings, but has posted a 3.96 ERA in 20 starts and been worth 2.3 WAR, according to Baseball Reference. He grew up in Southern California, so might also be willing to sign a long-term contract with Los Angeles in the offseason. Graveman, who is signed through 2024, would give the Dodgers another back-end type reliever. He’s logged a 3.07 ERA in 42 appearances with eight saves in as many opportunities. The final piece that would make sense for Los Angeles is Tim Anderson, who’s having a down year, batting .231/.268/.271 with only 11 extra-base hits in 313 plate appearances. However, a change of scenery might be what he needs. Last year he hit .301 in 79 games and was a perfect 13-for-13 in stolen-base attempts. Anderson has a $14 million team option for 2024.

In return, the Dodgers could offer one of their top two catching prospects, Diego Cartaya or Dalton Rushing, as the headliner, along with one of their second-base prospects, Jorbit Vivas or Rayne Doncon, and a starting pitching prospect such as Gavin Stone or Michael Grove. Other prospect combinations could work. The Dodgers’ system is so deep there are many variations to make a deal like this work for both sides.