Dodgers trade with NL West rival for $115M Cy Young winner in potential rare division blockbuster originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone through a few small losing streaks recently, and questions are beginning to mount. However, they just took the last two games against the San Francisco Giants to split the series.
The starting rotation has dealt with both injuries and inconsistency. While it is not necessarily a major issue yet, it feels more significant considering the Dodgers are chasing a third consecutive World Series championship.
“The pitching staff is dealing with some injuries. It all just feels … a little bit rickety, and when you're chasing a three-peat and baseball immortality, that qualifies as a big deal,” FanSided’s Chris Landers wrote.
The Dodgers would likely prefer to add a reliable arm who can take the mound every fifth day. One possible option is Giants left-hander Robbie Ray, although acquiring him would require trading within the division.
“Pitching depth is not a problem for Los Angeles, but they are always looking for upgrades. Additionally, a number of starters on LA's roster have battled injury trouble. Pitchers such as Roki Sasaki and Emmet Sheehan have struggled, while Tyler Glasnow is currently injured. Bringing in a starter such as Robbie Ray would give the Dodgers' rotation a boost. LA wants to do everything it can to win its third consecutive championship, and making a trade for a star such as Ray would only help matters,” ClutchPoints’ Joey Mistretta wrote.
While trading with a division rival is uncommon, it does not mean it cannot happen. Earlier this week, Los Angeles completed a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks for outfielder Alek Thomas.
“The Diamondbacks and Dodgers announced a trade sending center fielder Alek Thomas to L.A. for minor league outfielder Jose Requena. The Dodgers will assume the approximate $1.4MM remaining on Thomas’ $1.9625MM arbitration salary,” MLB Trade Rumors’ Anthony Franco wrote.
Ray would be a strong addition for Los Angeles, but the biggest question is whether the Giants would actually be willing to make that kind of move with a division rival. The Dodgers are searching for more consistency in their rotation, both in terms of health and performance.
Ray is on a $115 million contract. Adding Ray would also give Los Angeles another left-handed option in the rotation, allowing the team to present opposing lineups with different looks. It would also provide the Dodgers with another experienced veteran arm heading into the postseason.
More MLB news:
