The Los Angeles Dodgers have executed a late-night roster maneuver that signals growing concern over the health of infielder Tommy Edman, acquiring infielder-outfielder Tyler Fitzgerald from the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations in a move that raises immediate questions about the team’s internal timeline for its injured star.

The transaction, announced late Tuesday, comes as the Dodgers placed right-handed pitcher Landon Knack on the 60-day injured list to clear space on the 40-man roster. Fitzgerald, a 27-year-old who spent the past three seasons with the San Francisco Giants, arrives in Los Angeles with a career major league batting average of .252 but is currently mired in a brutal slump at the Triple-A level.

Fitzgerald’s 2025 minor league numbers are alarming. In just 32 at-bats with the Blue Jays’ affiliate, he is hitting .094 with a .147 on-base percentage and a .272 OPS. He has managed only one stolen base. The sample size is minuscule, but the performance is undeniably poor, making the Dodgers’ interest puzzling on the surface.

However, the context of the move becomes clearer when examining the latest update from manager Dave Roberts regarding Tommy Edman. The Dodgers’ projected everyday second baseman has been sidelined since late last season with a leg injury, and his rehabilitation has hit another frustrating snag.

Roberts confirmed that Edman recently increased the intensity of his running progression, but that effort triggered soreness, forcing the team to pull back. “There was some progress and then he got sore about a couple weeks ago,” Roberts said. “So, then we stood down a little bit and tried to maintain the running progression, not build it up.”

The manager’s tone was cautious, offering no concrete timeline. “Where he’s at today? I’m not sure,” Roberts admitted. “It’s tough because there’s not like cold hard evidence. Not like, ‘Oh yeah, he’s doing this or he’s doing that.’ We can’t say, ‘Oh, he’s going to be back then.’ It’s right now just kind of all up in the air.”

Roberts did offer a broad window, suggesting Edman could return by the end of May or beginning of June. But given the repeated setbacks and the fact that Edman has not yet swung a bat or run the bases at full speed, many observers believe a mid-June return is far more realistic.

The Dodgers have been rotating through second base options all season. Alex Freeland, Miguel Rojas, and Ha Seong Kim have all seen time at the position, and the team has managed to stay competitive. But the absence of Edman’s elite defensive versatility has been felt, particularly his ability to play second base, shortstop, and all three outfield positions.

Fitzgerald, despite his current struggles, offers a similar multi-positional profile. In his best major league season, 2024, he played 96 games for the Giants, hitting .280 with a .314 on-base percentage. His Baseball Savant metrics from that season showed elite sweet-spot contact rates, though that number has dropped significantly in 2025.

The Dodgers’ front office, led by Andrew Friedman, is known for making low-risk, high-reward acquisitions. Fitzgerald is under team control and cost only cash, making this a classic depth play. But the timing suggests the organization is bracing for an extended absence from Edman.

“When moves like this happen, you have to understand that the expectation from the Blue Jays might have been that they were going to release him and the Dodgers came in and said, ‘Hey, we’ll take him,’” one analyst noted. “Obviously not yet confirmed, but when you’re batting .094, it’s the thought process there.”

Fitzgerald’s speed remains a legitimate asset. Even in his down year, he has shown the ability to steal bases and take extra bases on hits. The Dodgers may use him primarily as a pinch runner or defensive replacement in the short term, with an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City likely first.

The move also underscores the precarious nature of the Dodgers’ infield depth. While Freeland and Kim have performed admirably, neither offers the same defensive ceiling as Edman. Rojas, at 36, is best suited for a part-time role. The team cannot afford to rush Edman back only to see him reinjured.

“You way rather have him sit in the wings, wait down till he’s fully ready, than get him out there and injure him again,” one insider said. “You don’t need him right now. Alex Freeland, Ha Seong Kim are playing great. There’s no point in rushing him back.”

Edman’s injury history is a concern. He missed significant time in 2024 with a wrist issue and then suffered the leg injury late in the season. The current setback, while minor, has delayed his progress by weeks. The Dodgers are taking an ultra-cautious approach, but the lack of a clear timeline is unsettling.

The Fitzgerald acquisition may also signal that the Dodgers are preparing for the possibility that Edman’s return could be pushed back even further. If he cannot begin swinging a bat until mid-May, a June return becomes optimistic. The team needs a warm body who can fill in at second base and the outfield without requiring a major league roster spot immediately.

Fitzgerald’s minor league option status gives the Dodgers flexibility. They can stash him in Oklahoma City and evaluate his performance. If he rediscovers his 2024 form, he could become a valuable piece. If not, the cost was negligible.

The Dodgers’ front office has a history of making moves that seem minor at the time but prove prescient later. Last season, they acquired a struggling pitcher who eventually became a key bullpen arm. This could be a similar story, or it could be a footnote in a season defined by Edman’s health.

For now, the focus remains on Edman’s running progression. Roberts said the team has not pushed him on “arcs and running the bases yet.” That is a critical step. Until Edman can sprint, turn corners, and slide without pain, he cannot be cleared for game action.

The Dodgers are in a strong position in the standings, but the National League West is competitive. Every game matters. Having a fully healthy Edman for the second half of the season and the playoffs is the priority, even if it means enduring some short-term uncertainty.

Fitzgerald’s arrival does not change the calculus dramatically. He is a depth piece, not a savior. But the fact that the Dodgers felt compelled to make a move now, rather than waiting for internal options, speaks volumes about their level of concern.

The team has not publicly acknowledged any change in Edman’s timeline. But the actions speak louder than words. Acquiring a second baseman who is hitting .094 in the minors is not a move a confident team makes. It is a move a team makes when it is hedging its bets.

As the Dodgers prepare for a crucial stretch of games, the uncertainty surrounding Edman looms large. The Fitzgerald trade is a small piece of a larger puzzle, but it is a telling one. The Dodgers are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best.

The next few weeks will be critical. If Edman can resume running without soreness and begin swinging a bat, the timeline may hold. If not, the Dodgers may need to explore more significant options on the trade market. For now, they have their safety blanket in Fitzgerald.

The baseball world will be watching closely. The Dodgers have made another sneaky trade, and its implications may not be fully understood for weeks. But one thing is clear: Tommy Edman’s health is the key variable, and the Dodgers are not taking any chances.