Editorials

Dodgers: Looking Back on the Trade for Dylan Floro

The Dodgers traded minor league arms James Marinan and Aneurys Zabala to the Reds a month before the trade deadline in 2018 to get reliever Dylan Floro, who is obviously still with the team to this day. As part of this deal, the Dodgers also acquired reliever Zach Neal who made one appearance for them, and sent international bonus slot money to the Reds.

The Trade

When the Dodgers traded for Dylan Floro, they were in need of impact bullpen talent. Originally, it looked as if Floro was just another bargain bin find by the Friedman and Zaidi brain trust, but he certainly proved he was better than that. With the Dodgers in 2018, Floro tossed 27 2/3 innings, striking out 31 batters on the way to a sparkling 1.63 ERA.

In 2019, the story continued to start the year. Floro tossed an impressive 17 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings to start the year. Since then, he has thrown 6 2/3 innings, allowing 8 earned runs for a 10.80 ERA. He should find that success again, considering that through his first 45 innings with the club, he only allowed 5 earned runs.

The Moving Parts

Let’s take a look at whether or not the trade has turned out to be one that is worthwhile:

James Marinan

Marinan, 20, was the Dodgers’ fourth-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft. The Dodgers felt strongly enough about Floro to trade a top-tier selection like Marinan after just one calendar year in the system. Interesting. It appears the Dodgers knew what they had. With the Reds, Marinan has been nothing short of an utter disappointment. Currently pitching in High-A Dayton, an affiliate of the Reds, Marinan has tossed 58 1/3 innings with just 37 strikeouts and some frightening marks of a 5.09 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. Marinan is young enough to be able to turn his career trajectory around, but the early prospects do not look great. At this point in time, it looks like the Dodgers made the right decision in shipping out James Marinan to the Reds.

Aneurys Zabala

Overall

It is entirely safe to say that this was a GREAT trade for the Dodgers. Even though Floro is struggling right now, he has been arguably the Dodgers best reliever since they acquired him last July. Zabala and Marinan haven’t done anything in the Reds’ system that warrants notation and that is a good thing for the Dodgers.

Although initially a bargain bin find, Floro has established himself as an elite reliever at the major league level, albeit for the good guys in blue.

Daniel Preciado

My name is Daniel Preciado and I am 19 years old. I am a sophomore Sport Analytics major and Cognitive Science and Economics dual minor at Syracuse University. When I am not in New York, I live in Whittier, California --- not too far from Chavez Ravine. I am pretty old-school for being an analytics guy and I will always embrace debate. Also, Chase Utley did absolutely nothing wrong.

7 Comments

  1. What? Great reliever? He’s horrible! Especially the stupid mistake of pitching against Mike Trout. Floro needs to be traded away. You put him up, you’re giving away runs for free.

  2. Don’t believe its Floro’s fault but the stupid way he is used. Seems obviously he has been overworked and is not a back to back reliever but needs more rest in between uses. Roberts is not smart enough to see that.

  3. Did you not mention one of the players in the trade in the discussion of the moving parts?

  4. Yes, the Dodgers appear to have “won” this trade, but you are seriously over valuing Flora based on ERA. Yes, he has generally not allowed earned runs. But he has consistently allowed more than 40 percent of the runners that were on base when he entered the game to score. That places him toward the bottom of MLB relievers. To be fair, that stat has plagued the majority of the Dodgers bullpen the past couple of years, which is why they are not so much firemen and they are dumpster firemen. Floro is not so good at cleaning up other peoples’ messes which is something we need out of a top reliever.

  5. with the staff they have…why all of the injuries…….hitting coaches not getting the players physically or mentally prepared to perform…too, too many strikeouts by a lazy effort, overwhelmed and not focused…..pitchers throw a few pitches and are pulled for whatever reason….is this the way to run a team….and the manager leaves a lot to be desired,,,,,,doesn’t have a clue

  6. It’s nice to have a fresh perspective on the game. A young journalist mind who can elaborate eloquently is just what we need!!! Welcome aboard!!!

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