Dodgers Set to Activate Edwin Díaz, Kiké Hernández in Massive Boost Before MLB Trade Deadline
The Dodgers are expected to activate Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández during next week's homestand, providing a major boost ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
PHILADELPHIA, PA—As the 2026 Major League Baseball trade deadline fast approaches with less than two weeks for teams to start wheeling and dealing, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are set to receive two significant reinforcements in Edwin Díaz and Kiké Hernández.
Both players are set to be activated during the Dodgers’ upcoming homestand, which kicks off on Tuesday against the Seattle Mariners after Monday’s day off.
Díaz, 32, has been out since April after undergoing right elbow surgery to remove loose bodies, a procedure that fellow pitcher Blake Snell underwent, but not the new NonoNeedle.
The timeline put Díaz on track for the second half, and after making a handful of minor league rehab starts during All-Star weekend, the right-handed closer is set to rejoin the Dodgers bullpen.
Díaz is scheduled to pitch for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday before making two more rehab appearances on Thursday and Sunday. If all goes as planned, he'll be activated ahead of Tuesday's series opener.
“We feel very confident right now if he continues to trend the way he has, the back-to-back to check that box, to then go Sunday, we feel like he’d be in a good spot,” Roberts said of Díaz, who had an ERA north of ten while battling his elbow injury earlier this year.
As for fan-favorite utilityman Kiké Hernández, his activation for Tuesday is less certain than Díaz, but Dave Roberts does expect to see him also activated during the six-game homestand next week.
“He’s in a good spot,” Roberts said. “So Tuesday could probably make sense. I just don’t know for certain.”
The long-time Dodger kicked off a minor league rehab assignment last week with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, after missing a lengthy time on the IL for a second time this season due to an oblique strain.
In Hernández’s brief two-game appearance this season, he was 4-for-4 with one home run and two RBI in four at-bats.
The expected returns of Díaz and Hernández should provide a significant boost for the Dodgers. Since Díaz’s injury, Los Angeles has relied on a closer-by-committee approach, with Tanner Scott handling most of the save opportunities, while Hernández’s absence has been felt both for his defensive versatility and veteran presence off the bench, a role rookie Alex Freeland has filled admirably.
Díaz’s activation has another ripple, with the team needing to make a corresponding move on the 40-man roster.
If both players return and perform as expected, the Dodgers likely won’t need to prioritize bullpen or position-player help at the trade deadline. The biggest question remains the starting rotation.
Los Angeles is still awaiting the returns of Shohei Ohtani, who threw a bullpen session Wednesday as he recovers from a knee injury, Blake Snell, who is currently on a rehab assignment after undergoing elbow surgery in May, and Tyler Glasnow, who has yet to face hitters since landing on the injured list with a back injury.