This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

LOS ANGELES -- With July upon us, that means the Trade Deadline is getting closer and closer.

The Dodgers, as they have every year lately, boast one of the best records (53-35) in the Majors and will be one of the teams that will be looking to be buyers at this year’s Deadline, which is July 30. Even with the Dodgers being 18 games over .500 heading into the weekend series against the Brewers, they have some areas to improve for the stretch run.

We’ll discuss that and more in this edition of the Dodgers Inbox.

Do the Dodgers try to add starting pitching depth with Yamamoto down or focus more on offense to strengthen the bottom of the order? -- @SnavelyCody 6 via X
Even before Yoshinobu Yamamoto went down with a right rotator cuff injury, the Dodgers were going to look to be active in the starting pitching market. But with the Japanese right-hander sidelined for at least another month, the Dodgers’ need for a starting pitcher is only magnified.

Since June 16, the day after Yamamoto’s injury, Dodgers starters have a 5.03 ERA. The Dodgers, of course, will get Yamamoto, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw back from the injured list at different points this season, but they could still use some more help, especially a top-of-the-rotation arm.

White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet is someone who makes sense, though he’s going to come at a hefty price, as almost every contender will be calling Chicago for his services.

But yes, to fully answer the question, starting pitching is the biggest need for the Dodgers. They could, however, use some help to beef up a bottom of the order that has struggled all season.

Do you think they acquire an everyday infielder, either at SS or 2B? -- @Bleedinblue1 via X
Toronto’s Bo Bichette is someone who I reported this offseason the Dodgers at least inquired about. That interest is going to continue through the Deadline, though there’s a chance the Dodgers just stick with what they have in Miguel Rojas, Gavin Lux and Mookie Betts (when he gets back from a fractured left hand sometime in August).

Bichette has had a down season at the plate and is just an average defender. Rojas gives the Dodgers a better defender at the position and Betts is a better offensive player. If the price comes down on Bichette, then that’s something the Dodgers could improve. If it doesn’t, I don’t see that happening.

In the outfield, the Dodgers could use some help. Jason Heyward could miss some time after suffering a left knee injury on Thursday. Toronto’s Kevin Kiermaier would be an intriguing name. Kiermaier has had a down season offensively, but he is arguably the best defensive center fielder in the game, which could allow the Dodgers to have more flexibility. Making a call to the White Sox for Tommy Pham would also be a good addition for the Dodgers. Pham has been a fit for years.

What kind of future is there for the catching prospects we have? Smith backup [until] he moves to 1st at some point, position swaps, trades, etc.? -- @gjoeyjoe via X
If Will Smith moves to first base, it won’t be any time soon. That creates some chaos for all the catching prospects the Dodgers have behind him, but there’s no rush to make any decisions. No. 7 prospect Diego Cartaya and No. 1 prospect Dalton Rushing are the closest to making an impact at the Major League level, but they still need some significant seasoning in the Minors. Thayron Liranzo is years away.

Having better prospects and competition always opens the door for trades, particularly at this time of the year, but there's no real rush for the Dodgers to make these decisions.

Any word on James Outman and whether the team will call him back up sometime soon? -- @pretzeltini via X
Outman would be the first option to return if Heyward is forced to miss time with injury. The center fielder has been good with Triple-A Oklahoma City since his demotion, hitting nine homers and posting a .924 OPS in 38 games. But as we’ve learned, there’s a pretty wide gap between the Majors and Triple-A, so the Dodgers could opt to keep getting him regular at-bats in the Minors as he works through his season-long struggles.