Oakland Athletics: What Would a Rich Hill Trade Look Like?
Dodgers Add Another Starter with Kershaw, Ryu Injuried
Los Angeles Dodgers Receive: Rich Hill
Oakland Athletics Receive: Grant Holmes (60th overall, BA), Austin Barnes (LAD 12th, mlb.com)
The Dodgers have played much better of late, moving within five games of the San Francisco Giants. They also have the best record of any team that isn’t a division leader in the National League. Los Angeles has done all of this gaining without the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw. To add to their rotation troubles, the club just learned that Hyun-jin Ryu would have to go onto the disabled list. Alex Wood is also highly unlikely to pitch in 2016.
This leaves them with a rotation made up of Kenta Maeda, Scott Kazmir, Bud Norris, Brandon McCarthy and 19-year-old Julio Urias. While tremendously talented, Urias probably still needs some seasoning in Triple-A after struggling in the majors. Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Bud Norris are solid veteran inning eaters, but haven’t pitched well enough to invoke confidence as a potential postseason starter. The Dodgers need another pitcher to pair with Kershaw and Maeda, as well as to give insurance if the Dodgers ace misses an extended period of time.
The Athletics would also be getting two top 15 prospects in the Dodgers system. The more well-regarded player that Oakland will be getting is 20-year-old right-handed pitcher Grant Holmes. The former 22nd overall pick in 2014 has been on a steady rise through the Los Angeles farm system over the past two years. He has pitched to a 3.39 ERA for the Dodgers High-A team, striking out almost a batter an inning.
Holmes has been successful at every level, holding a career 3.35 earned run average and posting a strikeout rate of 9.8 per nine innings over the past three seasons. He has had issues with walks and critics think that he is destined for the bullpen because of his lack of feel for his secondary pitches. He has the talent to be a two or a three in a starting rotation, which is something that should entice Billy Beane.
The Athletics would also be getting a solid young catching prospect in Austin Barnes. The 26-year-old is currently blocked by Yasmani Grandal, even though he is currently owning Triple-A pitching. He owns a .300 average this season, adding four long balls as well. Barnes profiles as a possible starting catcher that can move around the diamond as he’s played second and third base as well.
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