A term has been floating around in Dodgerland, though it didn’t originate from the Major League Baseball playbook. Instead, it comes from the NBA’s playbook. The term is “Load Management,” and it has sparked an honest reaction from Freddie Freeman. As someone who has established himself over 14 years in this league, Freeman’s career is built on consistency and relentless hard work. And let’s not forget—he recently spent significant time off the field due to a right ankle injury. So, naturally, the idea of staying off the field has never appealed to him.

If you have been tuned in, you would know that the Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings, and LA Clippers are each one defeat away from taking a long vacation. So, guess what? All eyes immediately turned to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are now the only hope of LA’s championship dreams. And well, at this stretch of the season, the Dodgers are living up to the expectations. But lately, the term “load management” has been floating around the Dodgers—should they rest players strategically for the crucial stretch of the season? After all, the injury bug has deeply bitten the Dodgers.

The two major right-handed pitchers—Blake Treinen and Michael Kopech—have landed on the 60-day injured list. And this has made the total count of sidelined pitchers: 13. Despite being in the midst of these woes, Freeman doesn’t seem in sync with the “load management” concept.

He stated, “They do such a good job of load management here, and I’m reluctantly starting to get on board with it as I get older.” He further admitted that since he gets paid to play, he wants to be out there doing his job well. The way he has functioned throughout his career, it’s difficult for him to wrap his head around off days.

Wait, it’s not just Freeman. Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts himself doesn’t buy this concept either.“There’s no correlation and it’s not an exact science,” he said, referring to giving Freeman days off for the sake of “load management.”

Since Freeman got back in the field after recovering from his injury, he wouldn’t like any days off. Amid the injury woes, he understands that the Dodgers are fighting for their stability in the season. The Dodgers are currently one of the top teams in the major league. And it’s alarming to know that they have 13 pitchers sidelined due to injury setbacks as of Wednesday. That’s more than any other team in the league. That’s exactly why the concept of “load management” doesn’t quite fit the Dodgers’ current reality.

Dodgers to consider trade options to fix the starting rotation

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the 2025 season with one of the deepest starting rotations in the league. However, that didn’t last long, as the Dodgers were hit hard by back-to-back injury setbacks. Most of their elite pitchers are now sidelined. On the surface, the Dodgers have maintained a decent number of wins this season, but beneath that success lies a troubling reality: the pitching staff is battling significant setbacks.

As a result, the Dodgers may need to explore trade options to patch the cracks. One name that has come up is right-hander Nick Martinez of the Cincinnati Reds. Acquiring Martinez could prove to be a smart move—he’s known for his championship mindset and has performed consistently well during his time with the Reds.

He is currently playing on a one-year, $21 million contract and would be a strong fit for the Dodgers. According to Zach Pressnell of Newsweek, the Dodgers could offer one of their top outfield prospects—James Outman or Dalton Rushing—in return. If the trade materializes, Martinez could immediately bolster the Dodgers’ starting rotation. Once the injured pitchers return, he could transition to a bullpen role, adding depth and flexibility.

Despite the ongoing challenges, Manager Roberts hasn’t raised any alarms yet. But moving forward, the Dodgers will need to act before the trade deadline.