Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: David Price Trade Requires Established Pitching Prospect

Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

UPDATE (July 26, 12:10 p.m. PT): According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Detroit Tigers are in the process of checking the market for potential additions to their roster in the event they decide to keep David Price:

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With the non-waiver trade deadline less than one week away, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ search for a starting pitcher has ranged from Yovani Gallardo, to Cole Hamels to David Price, to asking on the Cleveland Indians’ staff.

Former Oakland Athletic starter Scott Kazmir was the first pitcher dealt and Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto appears to be next as the Reds agreed to a trade with the Kansas City Royals. The Dodgers’ seemingly have had a longstanding interest in Hamels, which includes talks with the Philadelphia Phillies last season, but it’s believed Price is the pitcher Los Angeles prefers.

One obstacle in trading for the left-hander is the Detroit Tigers have yet to decide if they’ll be sellers on the market. Should Detroit eventually opt to wave the white flag and deal Price, they would expect a pitching prospect ready to make contributions next season as part of the return, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports:

Sources say the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays and Chicago Cubs have interest in Price. To obtain the left-hander, a team almost certainly would need to surrender a pitcher who fits into the Tigers’ 2016 rotation.

With respect to the Dodgers, a prospect in the organization who best fits that description is prized 18-year-old Julio Urias. However, the club refused to include him in trade talks last season and there’s been no indication they’ve backed off that stance under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi.

Another option could be Jose De Leon, who began the season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and now is with Double-A Tulsa. De Leon this season is a combined 6-5 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.05 ERA. There’s also Zach Lee, who made his Major-League debut Saturday night. However, his potential has been questioned by some and his trade value isn’t believed to be high.

As much as the Dodgers may seek an elite starting pitcher, they could instead opt for a second-tier arm if it means not emptying the farm. By going in that direction it may also allow them to address the bullpen, which although improved, remains somewhat of a liability.

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Clayton Kershaw On Strong Performance

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10 Comments

  1. I think it might be worth packaging Urias and whoever to get Hamels. To sway the Dodgers to do it the Phillies could send Papelbon and some money with Hamels

    1. The Dodgers don’t care in the slightest about money coming back. You don’t trade an 18 year old who figures to be pitching in MLB is less than 2 years. Not for a 31 year old guy that would be the #3 starter in LA.

  2. This is a difficult situation. 2 good choices are out of the mix, and there are a lot of teams fighting for what is left over. The price is going to be painful – I dread it more than I dread the prospect of standing pat. The main thing is to not take a step backward – don’t give up someone more valuable than the team is getting in return. Please don’t trade anyone for Jeff Samardzjia. Current pitching might be adequate with better run production. There is enough time to polish another farm hand before October…

  3. The Dodgers are always Going after some big names in Trades evry year but since New owners they talk but always loose the big ones and settle for no names.

  4. We need a front line starter for sure, or yet another amazing season long performance from Kershaw and Greinke will be squandered. However along with that front line starter and equally important, we need a closer. Kenley is great, but if you haven’t heard or read he apparently isn’t allowed to do any running the rest of the year as a result of his heel bone surgery. He can’t condition his lower body properly, and may not for the rest of the year be able to be the closer we think he is. So seeing as our offense appears to still be more or less unable to construct runs and take anything other than a 1 or 2 run lead into the last 9 outs, we need the pressure off of Kenley until next year. Kimbrel or Chapman are the closers worthy of this club, but same old song and dance – “give us Urias and Seager or get nothing!”. So if nobody will do business with you without taking away from you exactly what you need for next year and beyond, I suppose you’re stuck – prepare yourself to lose this year and try again next year. And that makes me grumpy.

  5. to add – get whatever a-list starters you want, but until the offense proves they can post up 4 or 5 run leads, the bullpen is going to lose 1 and 2 run leads, and the closer isn’t going to be able to save games. They need in compliment to a starter or two a serious re-think of the bullpen, and an added established shut-down guy. Without that and unless the offense suddenly turns into something it’s not looking like they actually are, starters (aside from Kershaw-Greinke) aren’t really going to matter.

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