As August 1, 2026 approached, the Rangers and Phillies had inquired about Dodgers outfielder Alex Call, adding another name to the trade-deadline conversation around a Los Angeles roster that is not expected to sell off core pieces.
Call is the kind of player that often draws attention in the final days before a deadline. He is inexpensive, controllable and has shown enough utility to fit on a contender’s bench or in a short-side platoon role. For clubs trying to add a bat without taking on major payroll, that matters.
Why Call is drawing interest
The appeal starts with the bat. Since 2023, Call has hit.278/.358/.432 against left-handed pitching, a useful split for teams looking for a right-handed option who can help against southpaws. That profile lines up well with the Rangers, who have been looking for a right-handed outfield bat, and with the Phillies, whose outfield has leaned left-handed.
There is also the broader context. The Dodgers are not being framed as sellers, but they are at least considering veterans who may not fit their eventual playoff roster. Call’s playing time has been limited with Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and Enrique Hernandez back in the mix, which makes him a logical trade candidate if Los Angeles wants to clear a path for a different roster construction.
What the contract situation looks like
Call is also attractive because of his contract status. He is owed $1.6MM and remains under team control through 2029, giving any acquiring club multiple seasons of affordable depth if the fit works out.
That kind of structure can matter even more for the Phillies, who are operating in a costly luxury-tax situation with a 110% tax rate attached to added payroll. A player with Call’s salary and control does not solve everything, but it does give a contender a more manageable way to upgrade.
Philadelphia’s interest is not new. Last deadline, its pursuit of Call already dated back to that period, suggesting the fit has been on the club’s radar for a while.
For now, the key takeaway is simple: the Rangers and Phillies have both checked in on Alex Call, and his mix of affordable control and lefty-mashing ability makes him a sensible deadline target if the Dodgers decide he is part of the group that may not make the final playoff roster.
