Dodgers trade for Yu Darvish at the last minute

The Dodgers barely reached the deal in time before the deadline.

Just when it looked like the Dodgers had stood pat on the MLB trade deadline literally at the last minute MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal sent the tweet heard round Southern California.  The Los Angeles Dodgers pulled the trigger trading for Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish.

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The Dodgers traded three minor leaguers for Darvish —  their #4 prospect sluggng infielder Willie Calhoun, #17 pitching prospect A.J. Alexy, and #27 infielder prospect Brendon Davis.

Darvish will leave the Rangers after six years.

Good news for Dodgers is that Dodgers president Andrew Friedman didn’t give up prized prospects Walker Buehler, Alex Verdugo, or Yadier Alvarez.

Despite having 4.01 ERA this season, Darvish has an era 2.49 away from the hitter’s park that is Globe Life Park.  Darvish will also benefit from pitching in front of better defense, as the Rangers we’re #11 in errors committed versus the Dodgers who are #6.

Currently on pace to win 113 games, the Dodgers had few holes to cover but adding a pitcher the caliber of Darvis without giving up their top prospects is a great move.  The last four years in the playoffs the Dodgers have had to start ace Clayton Kershaw on three days rest due to a lack of a number 4 starter.

Having Darvish on the team means they won’t have to make that move this year.  This is especially great when Kershaw has gone on the disabled list for the second year in a row wth back issues.

The Darvish trade might finally kill the narrative that the front office isn’t willing to “go for it” when it comes to the trade deadline.   No one can argue that Andrew Friedman and company didn’t use their resources to try and get the Dodgers to their first World Series in 29 years.

The playoffs in baseball are a different animal. The best team doesn’t always go all the way but this rotation if healthy with Yu Darvish in it makes it a stronger possibility of October success.

All the Dodgers brain trust can do is give themselves the best chance to win a five game or seven same series.  This trade certainly helps with that.

The Dodgers probably aren’t done there is still the waiver wire and the prospect of adding to the bench before the roster expansion in September.

Next: Why Picking Up Tony Watson Matters For Dodgers

The front office has given the team the help they need it’s now up to them get to the World Series.  I for one am optimistic they can do that.