Dodgers Acquire Josh Reddick and Rich Hill in Trade with Athletics

The first domino has fell.

The Dodgers and the Athletics have reached an agreement that will send outfielder Josh Reddick and LHP Rich Hill to Los Angeles in exchange for three prospects in the Dodgers' farm system.

The prospects that LA will send to Oakland are a trio of young pitchers including fire-baller, Frankie Montas, Grant Holmes and Jhrarel Cotton.  

Source: Reddick and Hill to #Dodgers. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016

Sources: Frankie Montas, Grant Holmes and Jharel Cotton going to #Athletics. @Jeffpassan first on Montas. — Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports was the first to report the trade.

The need to acquire Reddick happened early this morning as it appeared that the biggest outfielder name on the market, Jay Bruce, was headed to the New York Mets.

Earlier, the Colorado Rockies announced that Carlos Gonzalez and Charlie Blackmon would not be traded and the Dodgers' have been very vocal about their disinterest in Ryan Braun. That left Reddick and with starting pitching a need, it was just a matter of figuring out who the A's would accept in exchange for Reddick and Hill.

The LA front office has filled two of their three needs at the trade deadline, and they still might not be done making deals. After acquiring Reddick who will start in right field, the Dodgers will now look to trade struggling star, Yasiel Puig.

Reportedly, the White Sox are interested in Puig and he could be sent to Chicago for another starting pitcher. If that doesn't happen, Puig could be a part of a deal to Tampa Bay for a starting pitcher. If at the end of the day, Puig stays in LA, it's still possible the Dodgers could move him after the deadline through waivers. 

Reddick fills the Dodgers' desire for a left-handed hitting corner outfielder that unlike Bruce, plays solid defense. He is batting .296 with eight home runs and 28 RBI in 68 games with Oakland and is batting a whopping .341 with runners in scoring position.

The 29-year-old Reddick started his career with the Red Sox when he was selected by Boston in the 17^th round of the 2006 First-Year Player Draft. He is a former Golde Glove Award winner winning the prize in 2012.

His A's teammate Rich Hill is currently on the disabled list with a blister on his left hand, but sports a 9-3 record with an ERA of 2.25 in just 14 starts with Oakland this season. His age is suspect as the 36-year old was out of the Majors over a year ago.

Hill has played in 215 games in 12 MLB seasons with seven different teams (now eight), posting a career record of 35-26 with a 4.23 ERA. 

On paper, this deal looks great for the Athletics. Oakland is dead last in the American League West and nearly 15 games behind the first place Texas Rangers. They move two rental pieces—meaning their contracts are up at the end of the season—for three future Major League prospects.

Montas, 23, was expected to be in the Dodgers' bullpen this season before he went on the disabled list with a rib injury. In February, Montas had rib resection surgery and he missed the first two months of the season before appearing in seven games with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. He has a fastball that is clocked in the triple digits, and he was the top pitcher in the Chicago White Sox organization before he was traded to the Dodgers for Todd Frazier in the offseason.

Cotton, 24, appeared in the All-Star Futures Game for the Dodgers and is 8-5 with a 4.90 ERA in 22 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season. Cotton was one name mentioned as someone who could be called up to the Majors to make a spot start for the Dodgers if they did not make a trade. 

Holmes, 20, has made 18 starts with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this season and has gone 8-4 with a 4.02 ERA. He was selected by Los Angeles in the first round (22^nd overall) of the 204 First-Year Player Draft. 

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