31 July 2015

The Trade: Dodgers 4, Braves 0, Marlins Coming To Bat

The Dodgers, Braves and Marlins have consummated a trade that significantly boosts L.A.'s starting and relief corps, adds a near-ready middle infielder and cost some hemi-prospects and a boatload of legal tender. This is what former Tampa Bay boy wonder GM Andrew Friendman can do when you give him resources. In fact, Friedman was able to leverage the team's checking account to dislodge talent from cash-poor teams.

For the Marlins, this is another example of a salary dump following a failed signing spree. God help Giancarlo Stanton.

The real head-scratcher here is the Braves, who appear to be so awestruck by a 30-year-old Cuban third base prospect whom they attempted to sign last year that they sold the farm -- and the MLB roster -- to get him and some free cash.

Here's the tally:

The Dodgers add two solid starters in Mat Latos from MIami and Alex Wood from Atlanta to complement Kershaw and Greinke for the stretch run and playoffs. Latos is a veteran #2 or #3; Wood is a very promising left-handed, 24-year-old with a 3.10 lifetime ERA in career 387 innings.

Then they pack the bullpen with Jim Johnson, who was serving capably as Atlanta's closer, and they acquire Jose Peraza, a Triple-A speedster who projects to provide solid middle infield defense and good on-base skills.

The Dodgers didn't get that ace starter many expected them to chase. Instead they got a haul that improves them all over the field.

What it cost them is a bunch of maybe prospects and the acquisition of two dead contracts -- Bronson Arroyo, who is sitting at home collecting his millions, and Mike Morse, whose .214 batting average and inability to play defense suggest he'll be doing the same.

It's nearly the exact opposite in Atlanta, whose role in this deal is hard to fathom. They sacrificed all that Wood has to offer and all the promise that Peraza represents for some salary relief and Hector Olivera, whose multi-million dollar signing bonus was the Dodgers' responsibility. (Johnson is a free agent at season's end, so the only lost value there for the Braves is the opportunity cost of trading him for something worthwhile.) 

We should find out soon if Olivera can play; the Braves should activate him right away. They also obtained two minor-league arms and a Miami draft pick. Unless those farm hurlers turn out to be Glavine and Smoltz, it's going to be difficult to justify this deal.

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