The Dodgers have landed some rotation help, but not a huge name like everyone expected. The club has acquired right-hander Mat Latos and first baseman/outfielder Michael Morse from the Marlins, CBS Sports Baseball Insider Jon Heyman has confirmed.
Here are the trade details:
latos and morse are going from marlins to dodgers. salary relief to miami. @GDubCub 1st
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) July 29, 2015
The Dodgers are reportedly sending three prospects to Miami in the trade.
Behind Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, the Dodgers currently have Brett Anderson and Mike Bolsinger in the rotation. Latos will step into the fifth spot. Hyun-Jin Ryu (shoulder) and Brandon McCarthy (Tommy John) are both done for the year following surgery.
Latos, 27, is 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA (85 ERA+) in 16 starts and 88 1/3 innings this season, but he has been much better of late. He has a 2.96 ERA in seven starts and 45 2/3 innings since coming back from a DL stint in mid-June. Latos had been sidelined by knee inflammation.
The Dodgers don't appear to have much use for Morse with Adrian Gonzalez at first base and a glut of outfielders. It seems likely the club agreed to take on Morse's contract -- he is owed approximately $11.5 million through next season -- to lower the prospect price. They could flip Morse to another team or simply release him.
The prospects going to the Marlins are unknown at this time. The draft pick is from the recently completed competitive balance lottery -- those are the only draft picks that can be traded -- and figures to be in the 30-40 overall pick range come draft day. The final slot won't be decided until after the offseason, when free agents tied to draft pick compensation sign.
The Marlins are currently in sell mode, having already traded ex-closer Steve Cishek to the Cardinals. They have several other rental players they could move as well, including Dan Haren and Jeff Baker. Martin Prado, who is signed through 2016, could also be on the block.
The Dodgers come into Wednesday at 56-45, just a half-game up on the Giants in the NL West. Kershaw and Greinke have combined to throw 45.5 percent of the team's rotation innings. They simply needed someone like Latos to soak up innings and give the bullpen a rest.
