Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Team WriterJul 30, 2024, 06:04 PM ET
- ESPN baseball reporter. Lined the L.A. Rams for ESPN from 2016 to 2018 and the L.A. Angels for MLB.com from 2012 to 2016.
SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers approached this One year’s trade time restrict with a desire to add a frontline initiating pitcher and, with no longer as a lot as 10 minutes to spare, secured arguably the ideal one on hand, touchdown Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers.
The acquisition of Flaherty capped any other frantic time restrict for the National League West-main Dodgers, who also injected an harm-ravaged roster with two pleasing-utility avid gamers (Amed Rosario and Tommy Edman), a center fielder (Kevin Kiermaier) and a difficult-throwing reliever (Michael Kopech). Nonetheless the star, of route, is Flaherty, who has became a as soon as-promising career around with a dominant first four months of the season and drew heavy interest from a slew of groups in some unspecified time in the future of the final couple weeks.
In substitute, the Dodgers gave up minor league catcher Thayron Liranzo — the third-ranked catcher in their gadget by MLB.com, after Dalton Dashing and Diego Cartaya — and infielder Trey Sweeney, a 24-One year-faded shortstop in Triple-A.
“Getting an impact starter used to be a extremely high precedence for us, and Jack is no doubt that,” Dodgers overall manager Brandon Gomes said. “His characterize, his stuff, the swing-and-leave out — we feel esteem that’s a valid power possibility attain October.”
Flaherty is anticipated to affix the Dodgers in San Diego on Wednesday and compose his first commence in some unspecified time in the future over the weekend, for the length of a road sequence in opposition to the Oakland Athletics.
He’ll bolt into a embellished rotation that’s also rife with uncertainty. Tyler Glasnow has pitched esteem an ace however will soon exceed his previous career high in innings. Clayton Kershaw is a definite Hall of Famer however is also a 36-One year-faded coming off shoulder surgical operation. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller will seemingly be motivate fairly soon, however both own struggled of leisurely. And Yoshinobu Yamamoto is dealing with a strained rotator cuff, with no telling when — or, doubtlessly, if — he would possibly per chance almost definitely per chance return.
Flaherty brings some great-wanted straightforward assignment thanks to a resurgent season. Now 28, Flaherty used to be regarded as one of the sport’s most dominant initiating pitchers while with the St. Louis Cardinals in his early 20s from 2018 to 2019. He then struggled by shoulder components and posted a 4.42 ERA from 2020 to 2023, however he has been dominant since signing a one-One year, $14 million contract with the Tigers final December. Thru 18 begins, Flaherty posted a 2.95 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP, striking out 133 batters and issuing 19 walks in 106⅔ innings.
“Or no longer it’s though-provoking,” Edman, Flaherty’s former Cardinals teammate, said of reuniting with him on the Dodgers. “He’s a terribly fun man to play with, a exceptional competitor. I do know that L.A.’s going to esteem him. It will most likely almost definitely per chance also be fun to be reunited with him. He pitched in opposition to the Cardinals earlier this One year and I was staring on the sport and he struck out esteem 13 guys. He appears to be like to be like gorgeous base ideal now.”
Edman has yet to play this season. He used to be expected to be ready by Opening Day despite present process wrist surgical operation in October, nonetheless it wasn’t till June that he at final began to earn ready to compose it motivate. Then he sprained his ankle, extending his absence by as a minimum any other month. Edman, a 29-One year-faded who’s signed by next season, has played in eight rehab video games, all as the designated hitter, and must calm be reevaluated within the next couple days to peek when he can play the field.
“It must not be too long,” Edman said.
The set aside he plays when he returns, even supposing, is an launch ask.
Edman plays basically up the center, at shortstop, 2d pass and center field. Rosario, a pending free agent who slashed .307/.331/.417 with the Rays, is a lifelong shortstop who has made as a minimum 10 begins at three other positions this season — 2d pass, ideal field and third pass. Kiermaier, a four-time Gold Glove winner who has handiest a .546 OPS this season, is basically a center fielder.
Their presence is extreme given the accidents to third baseman Max Muncy (oblique stress), infielder Miguel Rojas (forearm tightness), pleasing-utility man Chris Taylor (groin stress) and ideal-fielder-became-center-infielder Mookie Betts (fractured left hand). Nonetheless there is also uncertainty on the set aside avid gamers resolve in as the Dodgers earn healthy — most particularly as it pertains to Betts,