Dodgers Should Be All In For Starting Pitching
By Pablo Jacobo
The Los Angeles Dodgers are heading home after a 5-5 road trip, bringing their road record to a subpar 23-27. While on the road they suffered an injury scare with Brett Anderson as he left the Atlanta game early with an Achilles injury.
Fortunately for LA it was nothing serious but I’m sure the Dodgers cringed a bit watching him exit early. He’s slated to start Tuesday against the Oakland A’s. Given Anderson’s injury past, him going down could have been detrimental to the team’s playoff run. It would have been unfortunate to Anderson because he’s reached a milestone he hasn’t been able to since 2010 – he’s pitched over 100 innings.
What this all means is that the Dodgers need to add a starting pitcher or two by the trade deadline. They have already lost Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu for the season and cannot afford another pitcher going down. The pitcher movement began last week with Scott Kazmir and Johnny Cueto switching zip codes. Both pitchers were on LA’s radar.
Los Angeles should be all in on the trade front for a top pitcher. Names like Cole Hamels and David Price are reportedly on the block and would be perfect additions to the already devastating duo of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. MLB insiders have the Dodgers in on both gun slingers, with Hamels being the favorite to land in LA?
“The #Rangers and the #Dodgers are the favorites, with Texas being slightly ahead.” — @jonmorosi on Cole Hamels
— FS1 (@FS1) July 27, 2015
(via @AmericasPregame)
It’s difficult to comprehend why this spectacular pitching tandem needs help. Their month of July so far is evidence how dangerous the Dodgers can be in the post season. The problem is after those two aces, nothing else has other teams nervous. Luckily for LA they’ve had pretty good options in Anderson, Mike Bolsinger, Carlos Frias and more recently Ian Thomas.
The confidence from fans is not at an all-time high. Despite the bullpen having the fourth best ERA (3.36) the reserves sit in the middle of the pack in saves. Injuries, fatigue and blown opportunities are the culprit but adding another top level starter to the rotation that could go deep into games, especially in the playoffs, can preserve the bullpen just in time for Kenley Jansen to close it out.
Hamels just came off a no-hitter over the weekend. His value surely increased after that performance. Scouts (including LA) were in attendance to watch the 31-year-old throw. In the 2015 season the 2008 World Series MVP has a 3.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 137 strikeouts. Moreover if traded to the Dodgers, he would be under team control for the next three years which offers insurance if Greinke opts out and leaves. The way Greinke is pitching now his price is definitely going to go up.
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Batters are hitting .233 against the lefty and would be LA’s number three starter behind Kershaw and Greinke. Philadelphia’s defense has been atrocious committing the fifth most errors (69) as opposed to the Dodgers (42) who are have the second least blunders in the majors. Hamels is already familiar with the National League and is a California native. The move makes sense for both parties.
David Price on the other hand is a strikeout machine and two years younger than Hamels. He’s tenth in the majors in strikeouts, firing over 95 MPH fastballs, 1.09 WHIP and earning a 2.31 ERA. One of the top hurlers in baseball, who next to Kershaw and Greinke would make the Dodgers one of the scariest rotations in the major leagues.
Dodgers GM Andrew Friedman is familiar with Price as he had him with the Tampa Bay Rays. Perhaps a reunion is in the cards? The 28-year-old’s situation is a bit trickier because he hasn’t officially been put on the block yet. He will be a free agent at season’s end and Detroit may look to capitalize on his value.
Price’s agent Bob McKinnis doesn’t seem too optimistic that his client will remain a Tiger. He thinks Detroit will hold out till Thursday before making any deal. Detroit is 11.5 games behind in the AL Central and 4 games back for a wild card spot. Tigers may opt to cash in if they don’t start winning some games before the deadline.
Sources: #Tigers remain in "buy" mode -- for now -- but a poor showing in Tampa Bay series could put David Price on the market.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 27, 2015
The Dodgers are approaching nearly 30 years since their last World Series title and I think it’s time for them to be aggressive in the trade market. Either one of these pitchers would be a huge upgrade over any pitcher not named Kershaw and Greinke. Trading for both would be better.
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LA has one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. Other than the untouchables Corey Seager and Julio Urias, they have promising youngsters like Scott Schebler, Darnell Sweeney and Jose De Leon. They also have Cuban signings Alex Guerrero and Hector Olivera on generous contracts. In addition LA spent big in the International singing period in July.
The Dodgers can build a nice package of prospects for any (or both) aces. Ideally I would want LA to acquire both pitchers. They have the prospects to make a deal but it’s unclear how much they’re willing to give up. Hamels provides the Dodgers insurance if Greinke walks in the offseason and Price would be a one-year rental for this season but both would be game changers for the Dodgers. Keep in mind, they can sign Price outright next season without giving up any prospects but the time to strike is now.
The Royals and Astros are all in. Why can’t the Dodgers? LA has the money and assets to enter the postseason with a devastating rotation of Kershaw, Greinke, Price and Hamels. It’s not likely, but wouldn’t that be something.