Starting Pitching Options
One of the perks associated with being the Dodgers if you haven’t already noticed, is that they always seem to be in play, or at least alive in all of the most sought after players in the offseason and trade deadline.
Kershaw Maeda, or Kershaw Kazmir doesn’t quite strike fear into an opposing lineups heart like Kershaw Greinke. It’s worth noting that the combination of Kershaw and Grienke failed to reach the ultimate goal, a world series, so it’s probably too much to believe Kershaw, surrounded with his current nucleus are capable of propelling the Dodgers to the top either. It is that reason, which also coincides with the number of injuries surrounding the pitching staff, that has the Dodgers in the market for a top of the line starter.
With A’s stellar lefty Rich Hill just being placed on the DL, and Sonny Gray having yet to prove this season he is worth a team mortgaging a chunk of the future for, Atlanta Braves 25 year-old Julio Teheran supplants himself as the most coveted starting pitcher who could be available. Teheran’s 2-6 record might leave some bewildered as to why he has that distinction. Which of course, is resolved by quickly saying, ” he’s on the Braves,” to which everyone immediately will understand and proceed to sob for the misfortunes Teheran has been faced with. Not all is bad for him though, surely the Dodgers would love to add a young arm who currently carries a 2.85 ERA on a team embracing the tank. His 8.45 K/9 is also a career high for Teheran.
Teheran’s contractual obligations will also make him appealing to teams looking to bolster their pitching staffs. He is currently in the midst of a very affordable contract given his talent, and is under team control through 2020. While he probably isn’t exactly a number one in a rotation, Teheran, if acquired by the Dodgers would surely be a very good number two.
Seeing as what the Braves were able to get for Shelby Miller, it’s safe to say they know how the market operates in terms of dealing with starting pitchers. It also shows they are unwilling to let their lousy record dictate them being taken advantage of on a deal. Much like Lucroy, Teheran isn’t exactly breaking the bank in the A, and who knows, maybe the Braves rebuild quick enough to where Teheran is still under contract probably not, but possibly.
If the Braves asking price results in Friedman going into cardiac arrest, expect him to improvise and look elsewhere in order to add a legitimate starter as well as some depth to an injury riddled rotation. While certainly not a sexy option, Twins starter Ervin Santana is said to be on the market and needless to say would require far fewer players than going after a Teheran would involve. If the Rays continue to fall further out of contention who knows, maybe Friedman could make a call back to his old stomping ground to check on the availability of formidable starter Jake Odorizzi. Neither Santana or Odorizzi would have the same impact as landing a Teheran would, but assuming they could remain healthy, it sure would provide some stability to that back-end, at least until a perspective on the futures of Ryu, McCarthy and Wood is provided.
Next: A Lefty out of the pen