LOS ANGELES — When the Dodgers acquired Kiké Hernández from the Pink Sox and Lance Lynn from the White Sox final week, the group was hopeful these strikes had been only the start of what was going to be a busy stretch of upgrading a roster that has shocked by way of 4 months.
However when the Commerce Deadline hit at 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday, it was principally quiet at Dodger Stadium. There have been no gamers out on the sphere and no coaches ready behind them. It seems it was additionally quiet within the entrance workplace because the Dodgers, a group anticipated to be lively within the pitching market earlier than the Deadline, solely landed a depth piece in left-hander Ryan Yarbrough from the Royals in trade for prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa.
“We added 5 guys within the final week, and quite a lot of them contributed huge in the present day,” stated Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who went 4-for-5 on Tuesday, his fourth four-game hit of the season. “We really feel good. We love our group. We had a first-place group going into the day, and we’ve a first-place group popping out of tonight. We love the group we’ve.”
Lynn, who turned out to be the sudden huge addition on the pitching aspect, fared effectively in his group debut, permitting three runs (all on solo house runs) and struck out seven over seven innings. Lynn turned the primary Dodgers starter to finish seven innings since Clayton Kershaw on June 20.
“It’s what we would have liked,” stated Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts. “He was a professional. Environment friendly. Attacking the zone. Made pitches when he wanted to. It’s been fairly a while since we’ve had a starter get by way of seven. So to go on the market and use two guys tonight out of the ‘pen and really feel actually good about tomorrow, it’s simply what we would have liked.”
The veteran right-hander confirmed flashes of why the Dodgers acted rapidly final week. His completely different combos of heaters gave the A’s some hassle, and Lynn leaned on the curveball greater than he has in earlier outings. Sadly for Lynn and the Dodgers, the right-hander nonetheless struggled to maintain the ball within the ballpark, and has now given up 31 homers — probably the most within the Majors.
“We gained, so it was good. That’s all that issues,” Lynn stated. “I made a pair errors that left the ballpark. However we gained, in order that’s all that issues.”
As for Hernández, Dodgers followers are not any strangers to the utilityman arising with huge hits. Dealing with reliever Tayler Scott, a right-hander — not the position the Dodgers acquired him for — Hernández cleared the bases with a two-out, three-run double within the fourth inning to provide the Dodgers a 4-0 lead.
In the long run, nevertheless, all of the discuss across the ballpark surrounded the pitchers they failed so as to add earlier than the Deadline. The Dodgers had been pursuing Justin Verlander, however knew that they confronted an uphill battle because it appeared the right-hander had his eyes set on a return to Houston. Whereas the Dodgers may’ve swept the Mets off their ft with a formidable prospect haul, it was finally Verlander’s determination due to his no-trade clause.
Then there’s the saga with Eduardo Rodriguez. After coming to phrases with the Tigers on a deal that will’ve despatched the left-hander to the Dodgers, Rodriguez opted to not waive his no-trade clause. In response to sources, a number of gamers on the Dodgers had been in communication for days with Rodriguez, attempting to persuade him to return to Los Angeles. Rodriguez, nevertheless, stated he wasn’t , a proper he earned when given a no-trade clause.
“We knew that this 12 months, there was a smaller quantity [of options] than there usually is, for varied causes,” stated Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “However there have been a pair guys we aggressively pursued, and that’s the way it goes. From our standpoint, we really feel actually good in regards to the group we’ve and the depth we’ve behind it. That stated, you all the time wish to really feel even higher.”
Whether or not the Dodgers are higher following Tuesday’s Deadline is up for debate. They did not land a high-end affect starter that might assist their possibilities in October and enhance a rotation that had a 6.18 ERA in July. Lynn’s begin does give them some optimism transferring ahead, however the way it all shakes out stays to be seen.
“We obtained who we obtained now. We like who we’ve,” Freeman stated. “So we’re prepared for the subsequent 57 video games.”