During the Dodgers 4-2 loss on Saturday, the front office released the news that they had completed a trade with the Miami Marlins for starting pitcher, Ricky Nolasco. The Dodgers will send pitching prospects Steven Ames, Angel Sanchez, and Josh Wall to Miami.
Nolasco will fit well into the fourth spot of the starting rotation behind Clayton Kershaw, Zach Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu. It gives the Dodgers options when you consider that Chris Capuano has not been very reliable, Ted Lilly has spent most of the year injured, and Stephen Fife is a rookie who may not be ready to pitch a full season in the bigs.
In 2013 Nolasco is 5-8 with a 3.85 ERA. He has 90 strikeouts to just 25 walks and has nine starts with two earned runs or less in 18 outings. In Miami he was receiving 2.89 runs of support per start.
The prospects sent to Miami are not going to put much of a dent in the Dodgers farm system. One name fans will may recognize is Josh Wall, who has pitched out of the bullpen for 12.2 innings in the last two seasons. In 2013 he gave up 14 earned runs and 17 hits in just seven innings.
The Dodgers will cover the remaining $5.5 million on his contract, but also acquired $197,000 for international signing bonuses.
Part of what makes the trade kind of cool is that Nolasco is a life-long Dodger fan and grew up in Corona, California. He posted his excited reaction the trade on Twitter Saturday night.
So pumped to wear Dodger Blue! Can't wait! #godoyers #dreamcometrue #rialtoraised — ricky nolasco (@RNolasco47) July 7, 2013
This is the second trade the Dodgers have completed this season, the first acquired relief pitcher Carlos Marmol from the Cubs. Marmol is currently working with the Dodgers at Camelback Ranch and will pitch a few outings in the minors.
With their first two trades the Dodgers have addressed needs in the bullpen and rotation, but where they look to strengthen next is unknown. Rumors have swirled that they want to acquire a second baseman or maybe even be ready to ship off Andre Ethier.
Whatever comes next, it is clear the Dodgers are buyers in this market as they try to build for a run at the playoffs.
