Bowden: 7 MLB trade proposals to upgrade contenders, including a Dodgers-White

There are just 12 days left until the MLB trade deadline and the cellphones of front-office executives are blowing up with texts and calls, along with the occasional email. Every contending team is active and engaged. Those clubs’ general managers and presidents of baseball operations are having conversations with their counterparts across the league, trying to find ways to fortify their teams and put them in the best possible position for the stretch run — and, hopefully, beyond.

Before the transactions start flying, here are some trade concepts I’m hearing in conversations with decision-makers throughout the industry. To be clear: Some of these have legs, and some don’t. However, as a thought exercise, it’s fun to look at potential trade partners and possible player targets for certain teams. It’s fun to think about theoretical deals from both sides, and debate which ones might actually materialize. Some of these trade frameworks have been talked about by the clubs in question and others are just rumors, but all of them are interesting and entertaining to contemplate.

I have ranked the following seven trade scenarios in the order that I like them for the respective contending teams.

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…