We are now down to 16 hours (as I am writing this) before the trade deadline expires. It seems we have been talking about how to improve the Dodgers for two months, all the time knowing significant changes (trades) were not going to happen until the final hour.
Dodger fans, and LAD beat writers, and national baseball journalists, believed that with all of the injuries, the Dodgers needed a front of the rotation level starting pitcher. But who was available? Many of us were hoping for Lucas Giolito as being the best of a mediocre group of starting pitchers.
As of right now, the Dodgers have seemingly settled on Lance Lynn. Lynn was desired by AF in 2020, but Texas wanted too much for him at the time. The 2023 Lance Lynn is not the 2020 version. The 2023 version could be considered somewhat of an innings eater. Certainly more than any of the LAD pitchers. He has a good K/9 of 10.83, and a reasonable K/BB of 3.38. However his ERA of 6.47 and his WHIP of 1.46 are not very good. He has allowed more HRs than any other MLB pitcher.
His ERA is last (63rd) in MLB for all qualified pitchers. His WHIP is 57th in MLB for all qualifiers. Interesting to note that the worst MLB qualified pitcher for WHIP is Jack Flaherty (1.55). His peripherals are not great either.
Lance says he is ready and eager to put March-July behind him and begin his new season with the Dodgers, starting August 1.
The Dodgers baseball personnel believe that they have found something with Lynn that they can make changes to. We will not have long to wait before we see Lance Lynn in a LAD uniform. He is set to take the bump against Oakland in Game 1 of a 3 game series tonight.
With Lynn the Dodgers also got RHRP, Joe Kelly. Kelly’s ERA of 4.97 is not very good, and neither is his 1.310 WHIP. But his 3.24 FIP gives encouragement. He is above MLB average for strikeouts with 32%. His 9.4% BB rate is above MLB average of 8.2%. I recognize that Joe is a fan favorite, but the Dodgers will not be facing Carlos Correa again this year.
I am still puzzled about the Kiké Hernández trade. At first I thought that Chris Taylor may be included in a trade to shed some payroll, and maybe it still is. The prospect capital was insignificant. Kiké is not as good defensively as CT3. My one salvo that I can latch onto, and appreciate, is Kiké’s positive post season exploits. Dodger fans have given grief to management for not having a good bench for the playoffs. Kiké helps with that.
The fourth acquisition is SS/2B/OF Amed Rosario. He is a professional and says that he is willing to do anything to help the club win, and he is more than believable. He had never played 2B before Sunday, but he had been out early working with the coaches on playing 2B. He appears to be the consummate team player, ala Jason Heyward.
But Amed Rosario is a Dodger because of his offensive metrics against LHP. He is a very good offensive player, both with the bat and his feet. He will help the Dodgers. He will undoubtedly hurt the Dodgers at times with his glove as well. Then again so does Max Muncy.
Another positive with the Rosario acquisition, is that LAD was able to move Noah Syndergaard and actually get a good player in return.
Dodgers Additions:
- Lance Lynn – RHSP
- Joe Kelly – RHRP
- Kiké Hernández – Utility Swiss Army Knife – Potential playoff weapon
- Amed Rosario – SS – RH batter against LHP
Dodgers Losses:
- MiLB RHRP Nick Robertson (Kiké Hernández)
- MiLB LHP Justin Hagenman (Kiké Hernández)
- RHSP Noah Syndergaard (Amed Rosario)
- MiLB RHSP Nick Nastrini (Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly)
- MiLB RHRP Jordan Leasure (Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly)
- OF Trayce Thompson (Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly)
The Dodgers are still involved in talks with NYM for Justin Verlander, but the chances seem unlikely. AF is not going to be bidding against himself on this. Everyone knows the Astros farm system is barren. If NYM wants to trade JV, they will get a better deal with LAD. But, the sticking point is that JV would prefer to play for Houston and may be only willing to waive his no-trade for Houston. 16 hours from now we will know.
AF has undoubtedly done his due diligence on multiple potential players, and an probably get a deal done very quickly. It has GM/PBO to put a time limit on decisions for major trades so they can pivot to the next deal (if there is one). Currently the only other players I have read where the Dodgers may be in play are Eduardo Rodriguez and Mitch Keller (highly unlikely). Would they take a Jack Flaherty or Rich Hill or Michael Lorenzen as a fall back SP necessity?
Perhaps the player with the highest ceiling that I would really like to see the Dodgers take a gamble with is KC RHRP Carlos Hernandez.
Carlos Hernandez big potential add for the padres bullpen, can work as a spot starter, medium or high leverage pitcher. He’s had a breakout season this year with a 22.7 K-BB%, 3.27 ERA, .254 wOBA, 6.5 Barrel%.
8 RV on 4-Seam and .176 BAA Slider, here’s all of his pitches marked. pic.twitter.com/mJ3Brs4yAN
— Danny (@TatisMVPszn) July 23, 2023
I do not see a rental that would entice me to want to trade any LAD top 10 prospects. I understand that there is no real position for Michael Busch this year on the LAD roster, but he sure deserves a good 2 month run. I would hope that the Dodgers hold onto him for next year. His bat could be special.
Unless the Dodgers do some trimming of the MiLB rosters, I foresee a lot of players taken in the Rule 5. I know fans do not want to trade the prospects, but there comes a time that you add them, move them, or lose them.
Then there was this:
Starting Pitching:
· Michael Lorenzen
· Jack Flaherty
· Eduardo Rodríguez
· Paul Blackburn
· Rich Hill
· José Quintana
Relief Pitchers:
· Scott Barlow
· Paul Sewald
· Keynan Middleton
· Brent Suter
· Brad Hand
· Brooks Raley
· Giovanny Gallegos
· José Cisnero
· Carlos Hernández
· Alex Lange
· Kyle Finnegan
· Aaron Bummer (the 2023 version)
Offense:
· Jeimer Candelario
· Tommy Pham
· Dylan Carlson
· Mark Canha
· Paul DeJong
· Teoscar Hernández
· Tim Anderson
Which of the above are you willing to give top prospects for? Top prospects: Which top 5? Which top 10? Other teams that occasionally compete are willing to pay that cost. Teams that consistently compete do not.
Top Rule 5 Draft 1st time eligible:
· Landon Knack
· Nick Frasso
· Kyle Hurt
· Yeiner Fernandez
· Kendall Williams
· Edgardo Henriquez
Previously passed on Rule 5 draft and still eligible:
· Hunter Feduccia
· Devin Mann
· José Ramos
· Alec Gamboa
· Gus Varland
· Carlos Duran
Thor had a nice debut in Cleveland that was ended when he was hit by a batted ball. He had no K’s and walked two against a powerful Astro’s lineup. LA actually picked up a half a game on the Giants and Padres who both lost. Padres got beat in 10 innings. They loaded the bases with no outs in the 10th and did not score. An error by Manny Machado on a tag play at third gave the Rockies a chance and they scored on a sac fly with one out. It took Az 11 innings, but they beat the Giants who also had chances in the late innings. The Rockies game was delayed two hours by rain. We had some here in Canon too. Late last night, the D-Backs added Jace Peterson in a trade with the Brewers. According to reports early this morning, Verlander prefers Houston, but LA is still talking.
Considering the starters we know we have next year(Gonsolin, Buehler,Miller, Sheehan) I’d like to see them get someone under team control thru 2024.
Regarding Busch, I would accept trading Muncy and his salary and playing Busch at 3rd. I would include Taylor if that’s what it took to get the right pitcher.
Even paying part of Taylor’s and Munvy’s salaries it might get us under the luxury tax threshold and improve us for a postseason run.
Jeff D. A very thorough article today. It covered the things we should know going into the final day of trading players. Let’s hope it’s an exciting finish for the Dodgers today.
At 3 pm I’ll be sitting in the Vancouver, B.C. airport waiting for a flight to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. I’ll be there for 10 days visiting friends. I used to go there once or twice a year. But, with Covid it’s been four years since my last visit. Looking to seeing my friends and getting out of this LA heat for a few days. Last time I was there my friends hooked up a sports channel so I could watch some Dodger baseball. It was very cool.
Carry on.
Has Paxton been traded?
Padres now in on Verlander. I would not put it past them. I cannot see them trading Jackson Merrill or Ethan Salas. Dylan Lesko is still coming off TJ surgery. Leaving LHSP Robby Snelling as the top prospect they have to trade. But his ETA is 2026. That may not be soon enough for NYM.
Baltimore has the best packages that can be put together, followed by LAD. Atlanta and Houston have nobody. It does appear that NYM is trying to make a deal, but they will hold on to JV if they cannot get a good package in return.
Hope the Dodgers pass on Verlander unless the Mets pay a significant portion of his remaining contract. And take Taylor and his contract.
Atlanta picks up LHRP, Brad Hand, for AA RHRP, Alec Barger (unranked prospect). Perfect pickup for Braves if they face LAD in playoffs.
Syndergaard last night!
Rich Hill and Ji-Man Choi to San Diego. Another LHP to throw at LAD.
Three MiLB players going back to Pittsburgh. Names not disclosed just yet.
Dodgers make a trade. Justin Bruihl to Colorado for cash considerations.
I’ve read where Outman might see less starts against lefties now that Amed and Kike’ would be used against lefties instead. Outman hits lefties. It’s a platoon to keep bench players happy and ready. Meanwhile, Muncy won’t be platooned and he isn’t doing as well against lefties this year as Outman. Boo.
A couple of highly connected journalists are calling JV to Houston a done deal. Nothing unofficially official yet. But close enough if the Dodgers want a front line SP they need to pivot to Plan B, C, D or whatever plan they are on.
I am hopeful that LAD has moved to E-Rod and/or Dylan Cease. But I am fearful that the best they are going to do is Jack Flaherty. Let’s face it, they need another SP.
Jack Flaherty, maybe a couple of relievers, and they will call it an aggressive trade deadline session.
It looks like Michael to Philadelphia for a package that includes their #5 prospect, 20 year old 2B Hao-Yu Lee (A+).
More to come
Have no idea how accurate. But I can certainly see St. Louis asking for them.
I’ll predict Eduardo Rodriguez comes here for Knack, Hurt & Newell.
A little more than an hour and a half to go. The Dodgers usually wait until the last minute to finalize any significant deal (except Machado). If the Dodgers do not get E-Rod, or Dylan Cease, or Mitch Keller, would you consider this a lost opportunity for the Dodgers. What about Jack Flaherty? Does he move your needle?
This is fascinating from Ken_Rosenthal: Max Scherzer told the Mets he’d prefer to stick around if they were planning to be a contending team in 2024, but they told him “our vision now is for 2025-2026.”
Mets’ opening day payroll was over $350 million.
Aggressive? To trade for a guy who has a no trade. Yes or no?
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers had a trade in place for left-handed starter Eduardo Rodriguez, but Rodriguez invoked his 10-team no-trade clause that included the Dodgers and the deal is now dead, sources tell ESPN.
Remember that just because a trade may not be announced by 3:00 does not mean that there isn’t one. Trades have to go to the commissioner’s office for approval. They have to be received in the Commissioners office by 3:00 PM.
15 minutes – Brendon Donovan is out for the year for surgery to his arm. Could Chris Taylor be an option for St. Louis?
Who’s going to be the first person here to buy a Ryan Yarborough jersey??
Dodgers made another big trade. Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek to NYM for cash.
They also acquired LHP Ryan Yarbrough from KC. Now the Dodgers have their opener for their upcoming bullpen games.
Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa headed to KC for Yarborough
does it look worse for the Tigers not to have been able to move ERod, or the Dodgers in not being able to acquire a pitcher like him?
Unbelievably this is a hard call.
Yarbrough vs AL Central 2.05 ERA/3.35 FIP
vs all others 6.57 ERA/5.30 FIP
I am encouraged.
Sitting here at the Vancouver airport. Went over the trade headlines and saw that the Dodgers got Rodriguez…..until I opened the article and realized he said no thanks to our team.
Not quite as bad as last year’s deadline, but surely not I was hoping for. I trust AF did his best make make something happen. Like many here it seems odd they would pursue a player that didn’t want to be here. I guess we play with we we gots. STB, I remained patient like you suggested. It did not help. But, thanks for the guidance.
Andrew Friedman said in conversations with the Tigers and Eduardo Rodriguez’s agent, he was never directly told he would waive his no-trade. They were surprised it became an issue at the end of the deal.
From Plunkett:
Andrew Friedman made it clear #Dodgers were surprised when Eduardo Rodriguez wouldn’t waive his no-trade to go to LA. “There was every reason to believe that he would, through various conversations (including former teammates in LA reaching out). But nothing definitive.”
Well, we got better. Not as better as I had hoped. Better enough to make it out of the NL? I don’t know. Maybe. I’m anxious to see the post deadline Power Rankings. The Astros staff sure looks good. Doesn’t look like the NL West did a lot. We should win it.
This was an odd trade deadline. Some real surprises.