Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
It didn’t take long for Andrew Friedman to make a deal with his old organization. The Dodgers on Thursday night acquired right-hander Joel Peralta and left-hander Adam Liberatore for flame-thrower Jose Dominguez and Low-A prospect Greg Harris.
At first glance, it seems like a pretty reasonable trade. The Dodgers get a dependable reliever and a lefty option for a guy who probably wouldn’t have made the bullpen out of spring training and a low-level prospect.
Peralta, 38, is coming off a season in which he posted some pretty good peripherals: 3.40 FIP, 3.11 xFIP, 1.18 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and a 10.5 K/9. He got bit by the home-run ball, as he allowed nine in 63 1/3 innings. He isn’t an overpowering guy, as he has averaged just 90.6 MPH on his fastball in his career. He makes his money with an upper-70s curveball and a low-80s splitter. In his last four years (all in Tampa Bay), he’s averaged 74 appearances and 67 innings pitched. Knowing how bad the bullpen was in 2014, Peralta is probably the second- or third-best reliever the Dodgers have now.
Most importantly:
Liberatore, 27, spent 2014 in Triple-A and posted some pretty good numbers: 1.66 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 2.1 BB/9 and an 11.9 K/9. With numbers like that, it’s hard to believe why he didn’t get a shot in the majors. He was added to the 40-man roster, which filled it out (for now).
Dominguez has an amazing fastball, and it was easily the best in the system. But, he had trouble commanding it (and staying healthy). He also has a slider and changeup, but he used both sparingly due to his legit upper-90s fastball. He should get a chance in Tampa, while he was probably ticketed for Oklahoma City with the Dodgers.
Harris is a low-level starter with a quality arm (89-91 mph) who was a nice get for the Rays. He struck out 9.5 batters per nine innings in Great Lakes as a 19-year-old. He’ll likely end up in the bullpen (works up to 95 mph), but he’s ticketed for a rotation spot in the minors for the time being.
Now it’s back to bed with me because I’m literally dying. Don’t get sick.
