Getty Image / Brandon Sloter
In recent years, the Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t shied away from making big moves to try and win rings.
They made a big trade to bring in Mookie Betts a few years ago.
Last season they outbid the Braves for Freddie Freeman.
Now they once again find themselves looking to buy as this year’s MLB trade deadline approaches.
The Dodgers have unsurprisingly been linked to some big moves as they attempt to hold on to a slim lead at the top of the NL West.
While they have yet to get anything done for some of the biggest moves they’ve been linked to, they did manage to land a couple of notable players today to bolster their pitching staff.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers have agreed to a deal with the Chicago White Sox to acquire Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn.
Veteran reliever Joe Kelly goes along with Lance Lynn in the #Dodgers trade.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2023
In exchange, the Dodgers will be sending Trayce Thompson, Nick Nastrini, and Jordan Leasure to the White Sox.
The Chicago #WhiteSox are getting back #Dodgers outfielder Trayce Thompson, their original draft pick in 2009, in the deal.
Also in the deal are pitching prospects Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure, as @JeffPassan reported.— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 28, 2023
Lynn is a former All-Star with a career 3.71 ERA. However, he has had a rough 2023 season. He has a 6.47 ERA and hasn’t really shown any signs of improvement recently.
Kelly is a similar acquisition. He was a solid reliever for the Dodgers a few years ago, posting a 1.80 ERA in 2020 and a 2.86 in 2021.
He has also struggled this year, posting a 4.97 ERA for the Chicago White Sox.
If either of these pitchers can return to the form they’ve shown in past seasons, they could give a big boost to a pitching staff that is in the bottom half of the MLB.
The Los Angeles Dodgers will likely have more up their sleeve before the deadline, but this is an interesting start as they work on building a contender.