Dodgers Deal With Latos Now Involves Atlanta, Alex Wood
Yesterday, the Dodgers were poised to nab Mat Latos and Michael Morse from Miami in exchange for three pitching prospects, an interesting deal which ESPNLosAngeles.com sportswriter Mark Saxon finally confirmed. However, jumping into the fray late yesterday was Atlanta, who will unload Jim Johnson and Alex Wood. The flurry of Wednesday trade action by the Dodgers positions them for an all-out march towards the World Series.
The Dodgers landed quite a load, in fact. Here’s the breakdown of the three-team fiasco which was finalized late last night:
Atlanta gets: The highly regarded INF Hector Olivara, who just signed a 6 year, $62.5 million deal in May, pitcher Zack Bird, relief pitcher Paco Rodriguez, and the Miami Marlins comp pick.
Miami gets: Kevin Guzman, Victor Araujo and none which rank in any Top 100 prospect list.
Dodgers get: Michael Morse, Mat Latos, Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, Luis Avilan, #24 prospect Jose Peraza and the #34 competitive balance pick.
Accordingly, the Los Angeles Dodgers will gobble about $25.5 million in salary for Latos, who’ll become a free agent this winter, and Morse, who’ll be under team control until 2016. In Latos, the Dodgers get a solid #3 starter behind Greinke, although his numbers in 2015 are well below average (4.48 ERA). Wood, 24, has tremendous promise but has struggled with control in Atlanta. His 2015 campaign is solid (3.54 ERA, 90 Ks), which could land him the #4 spot in L.A.’s log-jammed starting rotation. Jim Johnson figures to contribute to L.A.’s right-hand relief arsenal.
Miami’s involvement was clearly a salary dump, considering they received the least enticing return of the three teams involved. Atlanta, who also turned 2015 into their rebuilding year, received prospects and pitching which will factor into a rotation led by Julio Teheran and Shelby Miller. Recently, Atlanta traded Kelly Johnson and Juan Uribe to the division rival Mets.
With Cole Hamels heading to Texas and the David Price sweepstakes figuring to factor other teams, the Dodgers may be done shopping unless division rival Padres approach them regarding Will Venable or Craig Kimbrel. Several bats are available to note, including Jay Bruce and Yoenis Cespedes, the latter starting his career in nearby Oakland.
Just slightly over 30 hours remain in this year’s trade deadline, and with San Francisco heating up and shopping for pitching talent, it’s hard to determine whether the Dodgers are stocked enough to run away with the West. Los Angeles begins Thursday a mere 1/2 game ahead of the Giants, who’ve won 8 of their last 10. They play head-to-head seven more times.
(Photo by Justin Edmonds / Getty Images Sport)
