Editorials

Trade Deadline: Grading The Dodgers’ (Lack of) Moves

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The Los Angeles Dodgers were unusually quiet at the trade deadline; making just a single move in the final week of July.



The front office seemed intent on hanging on to its top three prospects — Joc Pederson, Corey Seager and Julio Urias — and they did just that. While selling the farm wasn’t part of the plan, the organization didn’t fill any holes either. Let’s take a look at the move that was made and some key ones that weren’t.

Darwin Barney for Jonathan Martinez

Apparently, general manager Ned Colletti was hot after a utility infielder who couldn’t hit. So he signed Miguel Rojas. Feeling he hadn’t quite met his quota, a year and a half later, he decided to trade for Barney, who had been designated for assignment by the Chicago Cubs.

To be fair, while the Cubs haven’t been particularly good this season, Arismendy Alcantara came up and tore the cover off the ball prior to Barney returning from an injury.

Barney is one of the best defensive second basemen in the league, there’s no questioning that. However, that’s all he brings to the table. He’s hit better against lefties this year (104 wRC+) than in the past but is miserable against righties (39 wRC+). He’s been a good baserunner but doesn’t steal bases.

The Dodgers envision him as a utility infielder. Only, there’s a snag: he hasn’t played any position other than second base since 2012.

Barney has logged a total of 131.2 innings at shortstop and 34 innings at third since he debuted in 2010. Did I mention the Dodgers already have Miguel Rojas?

Initially, the trade for Barney involved a player to be named later. Because time is linear, that player became Jonathan Martinez. Now, you may be asking yourself, “Who is Jonathan Martinez?”

Martinez, who was ranked No. 40 in Dodgers Nation’s top prospects before the season, is a 20-year-old Venezuelan native.

The righty posted a 3.47 ERA in 19 starts with the Low-A Great Lakes Loons in 2014, with 91 strikeouts and 19 walks in 106.1 innings. He has average stuff across the board, with no real out-pitch, and profiles as a backend starter.

So, in the end, the Dodgers got a player they already have for someone they could afford to spare. This deal looks like it will neither really help nor hurt the club over the next few seasons.

And that’s it. That was the Dodgers haul heading into and past the trade deadline. But what about the trades that were made by other clubs, or not made at all?

Next Page: Losing Lester

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Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

One Comment

  1. This is Ned’s pattern. In the past it was acceptable because he didn’t have the funds nor the prospects. Then he waits for the August waiver wire to get another has been that will in no way help. I give Colleti an F for the k this BS move.

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