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In a matter of a few minutes, the Los Angeles Dodgers quickly bolstered their pitching staff ahead of the MLB non-waiver trade deadline by acquiring Texas Rangers' ace Yu Darvish.
With less than an hour remaining before the deadline, the Dodgers made three trades, including the final trade for Darvish which wasn't announced until five minutes after the deadline.
In addition to Darvish, the Dodgers acquired 32-year-old left-hander Tony Watson from the Pittsburgh Pirates and 28-year-old left-hander Tony Cingrani from the Cincinnati Reds.
Confirmed: #Dodgers got Darvish— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 31, 2017
Often times, trades are announced after the deadline has passed as the league still has to go over the paperwork as it comes in. According to sources, the Darvish trade with the Dodgers was literally the last trade of the day, just sneaking in under the deadline.
The 30-year-old Japanese right-hander will leave the Lone Star state, the only home he's ever known for his entire six-year career. Darvish has been the best pitcher for the #Rangers over that time, but as struggled in 2017, sporting a 4.01 ERA through 22 starts.
The Rangers acquired No. 4 prospect Willie Calhoun, No. 17 prospect A.J. Alexy, and No. 27 prospect Brendon Davis in exchange for Darvish.
Here are the three prospects going to #Rangers:
Willie Calhoun
A.J. Alexy
Brendon Davis#Dodgers— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 31, 2017
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The Pirates acquired RHP Angel German and INF Oneil Cruz in exchange for Watson.
#Pirates receiveRHP Angel German and INF Oneil Cruz for Tony Watson #Dodgers— Michael J. Duarte (@michaeljduarte) July 31, 2017
The Reds received veteran outfielder Scott Van Slyke and minor leaguer Hendrick Clementina.
#Dodgers traded Van Slyke an Clementina to #reds for Cingrani— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) July 31, 2017
Darvish, Watson, and Cingrani, all head to Los Angeles on Monday where they will join a team currently with the best record in all of baseball.
The Dodgers were in desperate need of left-handed relief help, and they got two such arms back in the deal.
The team was also interested in adding a top of the rotation right-handed starting pitcher that could slot behind three-time National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who is currently on the disabled list with a lower back strain.
The Dodgers now have a formidable one-two punch at the top of the rotation for the postseason as well as two new toys that join the best bullpen in the National League.
Watson is 5-3 with a 3.66 ERA in 47 appearances this season and was most recently an All-Star in 2014.
Cingrani has a 5.40 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 25 appearances this season.
Here are some of the reaction by Dodgers players after the Yu Darvish trade was announced on Twitter:
Yuuuuuuuu!!! pic.twitter.com/fzWoP3Zvar— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) July 31, 2017
Glad I don't have to face yu this year https://t.co/5o6djhoY96— CodyBellinger (@Cody_Bellinger) July 31, 2017
��— Alex Wood (@Awood45) July 31, 2017
Hey @Dodgers front office. pic.twitter.com/OD1J1FW6If— Cut4 (@Cut4) July 31, 2017
