Who Else But The Dodgers Make The Biggest Splash Of The Deadline As They Trade For Jack Flaherty To Upgrade Their Rotation
Maddie Meyer. Getty Images.The 2024 MLB Trade Deadline came and out without many fireworks. Quick summary…San Diego traded a bunch of their top prospects for closer Tanner Scott. The Orioles ended up adding a few SP in Zach Eflin and Trevor Rogers. They also were able to acquire a salary dump player in Eloy Jimenez. The Pirates added a few guys (IKF and Bryan De La Cruz), which is crazy for them even if they are smaller names. Royals snagged a solid reliever Lucas Erceg. Sox got a few relievers in Lucas Sims and Luis Garcia. Yankees got Jazz the other day as well as relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos today. Jessie Winker is now on the Mets along with Paul Blackburn. Kikuchi went to Astros for a pretty big haul that shocked a lot of people around the league. Guardians got themselves a solid bat in Lane Thomas. There were a bunch of other moves, but nothing really earth shattering that are going to lead the 11 PM SportsCenter tonight.
A big one that did come in with just minutes to spare was for Tigers SP Jack Flaherty. Detroit had to trade this guy considering they're not a playoff team and he was a true rental. Flaherty has found something this year with the Tigers and kinda rejuvenated his career. Last year he was acquired by the Orioles at the deadline as a flyer. It didn't work out at all so he ended up signing a one year prove it deal with the Tigers in hopes to build up some value.
Well, he did a lot more than just build up some value. His numbers to this point? 106.2 IP | 2.95 ERA | 113 K | 19 BB |
As the deadline seconds ticked down the Dodgers found a match and were able to strengthen their rotation big time.
Liranzo is a power hitting catcher who LA had no need for and Trey Sweeney is an infielder who was involved in a prospect swap with the Yankees last year. Not really a daunting haul in my opinion, but it's possible the Tigers really liked what Liranzo has to offer.
The Dodgers desperately needed this kind of deal with the uncertainty they have going with their rotation. Yamamoto has been out since mid-June and is just starting to throw bullpens this week. He's probably a late August option if things go well. Glasnow, Kershaw, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan are your other options after that. Walker Buehler is a mess and currently on the IL. You add Flaherty to the mix and you feel a whole lot better about yourself. For a team in constant win now mode, those prospects, even for a rental, aren't going to make you lose any sleep. I wanted Flaherty bad and think it's crazy the Yankees weren't able to top that. Who knows how hard they tried with Cashman at the helm. Either way, the prize of the deadline goes to the Dodgers.
P.S. Somehow Bob knew. Does he have the script?
