The best decision that the Los Angeles Dodgers made at the 2026 trade deadline is obvious. The next-best decision that Los Angeles made is a bit more surprising. In the lead-up to the deadline, there was a lot of noise that the Dodgers were going to trade Eric Lauer to capitalize on their depth. And now, with the news that Emmet Sheehan is being demoted to Oklahoma City, keeping Lauer around looks smart. While he's been a vital lifeline, posting a 2.96 ERA over 51⅔ innings for Los Angeles' injured rotation, the peripherals predict regression is coming.