The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired starting pitcher Mat Latos and Michael Morse from the Miami Marlins, according to Gordon Wittenmeyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. Miami will receive three pitching prospects in return, and the Dodgers will take on the remaining salary of Latos and Morse, according to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald. The Dodgers will also receive the 34th overall competitive balance pick in next year’s draft. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Dodgers are still seeking high-end pitching, which could mean David Price or Cole Hamels.
Joe Frisaro of MLB.com is reporting that right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham is one of the prospects going to Miami.
Latos has an ERA 4.48 in 88 1/3 innings and a WHIP of 1.245. The 27-year-old has struggled with injuries this season and has thrown nine wild pitches, which leads the league. The righty is a good mid-rotation guy that currently strikeouts out 8 batters per nine innings and walks 2.5 during that same span.
Latos is in his last season of arbitration eligibility and is currently earning $9.4 million this season and will become a free agent at the end of the year. We’ve yet to see what the Dodgers will send to Miami, but you would have to guess it isn’t much for a short-term rental and an outfielder/first-baseman they don’t need.
Morse, 33, is having an awful season hitting .214/.277/.314 with four homers and 12 RBIs in 173 plate appearances. With an already crowded outfield and Adrian Gonzalez at first you have to wonder if the Dodgers will look to flip Morse in another trade. Morse signed a two-year deal with the Marlins worth $16 million, which the Dodgers will now have to pay.
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