Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Gonna be honest here and say that none of what you’re about to read is probably all that helpful, as things are basically still where they started for the Dodgers.
While the rumors all appear to agree that the Dodgers are prioritizing relief options like Zach Britton, the reports still seem to revolve mainly around Yu Darvish, and Ken Rosenthal of Facebook (?) seems to relay negative news regarding that pursuit.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, seem more focused on Orioles closer Zach Britton and represent an alternative for Gray if the Athletics fail to complete a trade with the Yankees. The Rangers accept that they cannot land right-hander Walker Buehler, the Dodgers’ top pitching prospect, in a trade for Darvish, and are not as high on some of the other Dodgers prospects who might be in play, sources said.
So basically the Rangers like Buehler, but since they won’t get him, they’ve reportedly cooled on trading Darvish to the Dodgers because they don’t like their other top prospects. Should you believe it? I don’t know, but it kinda works together with the multiple reports that the Dodgers are focusing on relief options.
Speaking of which, besides Britton, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN includes Brad Hand in the mix as well.
#Dodgers talking about Yu Darvish, obviously. But they're also in the mix for the three big lefty relievers — Britton, Wilson and Hand.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 30, 2017
Crasnick also sorta summed up the trade deadline madness when talking about the price on Hand.
#Padres no longer seeking top-tier prospects for Brad Hand. But teams have been offering "limited ceiling,'' 15-20 ranked types. Not enough.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 30, 2017
I never like to contradict my own reporting, but execs with multiple clubs say #Padres "haven't moved an inch'' in their ask on Brad Hand.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 30, 2017
Sweet.
One problem for the Dodgers is that the trio is down to a duo now as Justin Wilson is off to the Cubs.
FINALIZED: #Cubs acquire Justin Wilson and Alex Avila from #Tigers for Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes and PTBNL or cash. @MLBNetwork @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 31, 2017
Oh well, I guess.
As Rosenthal mentioned, Sonny Gray is also still in play, as the Dodgers and Athletics are keeping each other as fallback options, according to Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com.
Source: #Dodgers and #Athletics have stayed in touch on Sonny Gray — a wise move for both parties, if only to create leverage. @MLB
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 30, 2017
Honestly, if the Rangers don’t like Alex Verdugo and Yadier Alvarez and Willie Calhoun or whoever, Gray is probably the better pitcher to trade for anyway.
Um … just get one of them is all I ask.
Good luck surviving deadline day.
