The Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t done making moves yet. While their two previous trades this week were about working to make the lineup/roster stronger, Friday they aimed to make the pitching staff better.
At first glance, the acquisition of Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly seems like perhaps a marginal upgrade.
A right handed starter, Lynn has the worst ERA among qualified starters, a lovely 6.47.
One thing Lynn does possess is the ability to go late into games, something that pitchers in the current Dodgers rotation seem to lack. Also, Eno Sarris had this to say about Lynn in The Athletic recently –
For his part, old friend Joe Kelly is having a career high strikeout rate and strikeout to walk ratio. His ERA sits at 4.97, but his xERA is 3.23. Something with which pitching coach Mark Prior definitely could help.
The return for these two pitchers includes Trayce Thompson, who has been on the IL most of the season, and two arms from Double-A.
Nick Nastrini is a right handed starter that is expected to be one to watch in a year or two. Jordan Leasure is a right handed reliever also climbing the ranks. While neither one is one of the elite Dodger prospects, they are still tough to see go. Both Lynn and Kelly have options for next season, and if both produce in the playoffs, it will be well worth it.
Lynn, Kelly, and Amed Rosario were added to the Dodgers 40-man roster Friday afternoon. In the corresponding moves, both Eddys Leonard and Justin Bruhil were designated for assignment.
There is a feeling that perhaps the Dodgers front office still isn’t done. There seems to be some smoke around talks between L.A. and the St Louis Cardinals about one Nolan Arenado.
The return for Arenado would be a big one, and would most likely take a starter off the current roster. Names thrown around have been Max Muncy, Chris Taylor, and a young starter such as Bobby Miller or Gavin Stone. Hard to see where President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman includes players like that, but as we keep saying, stay tuned.