Another reinforcement has arrived.
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired right-handed relief pitcher Ryan Madson in a trade with the Washington Nationals just before the waiver trade deadline on Friday.
As previously reported, Madson was claimed on revocable waivers by the Dodgers on Wednesday, giving both teams 48 hours to negotiate a trade in order for Madson to be eligible for the postseason.
In return, Washington received minor league pitcher Andrew Istler from the Dodgers, who is not ranked in the team's top 30 prospects by MLB.com.
The 25-year-old prospect spent the 2018 season with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, Double-A Tulsa, and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He went 4-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 29 games. He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft.
Meanwhile, Madson, 38, has made 49 relief appearances with the Nationals this season and has struggled with a 2-5 record and a 5.28 ERA in 44.1 innings pitched.
Madson has long been coveted by the Dodgers and is a native of nearby Long Beach. He is a two-time World Series champion with the Phillies (2008) and the Kansas City Royals (2015).
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Entering the 2018 season, Madson was one of the more dependable late-inning relievers in the game. From 2015-2017, Madson posted a 2.55 ERA with an average of 8.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Madson has $1.3 million remaining on his contract and will be a free agent at the end of the season.
Each of the last three seasons, the Dodgers have acquired a player to help bolster a weakness before the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline.
In 2016, the Dodgers added catcher Carlos Ruiz to backup Yasmani Grandal. In 2017, it was Curtis Granderson, a left-handed veteran bat with postseason experience to help bolster the outfield in lieu of the late season struggles by Joc Pederson.
In 2018, with the uncertainity of closer Kenley Jansen since an episode in Colorado with an irregular heartbeat, the Dodgers bullpen struggled in late-inning save situations in his absence.
Since his return, Jansen too has struggled. Madson is expected to be a late-inning, high-leverage reliever with postseason experience as well as closer experience.
To create room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers designated left-handed pitcher Adam Liberatore for assignment.
