As with my articles on the National League East and Central, I’ll be reviewing the trade deadlines of the NL West teams, with the focus on prospects in particular.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Additions: Ryan Yarbrough, Lance Lynn, Kiké Hernández, Amed Rosario, Joe Kelly

Cost: Devin Mann, Derlin Figueroa, Noah Syndergaard, Trayce Thompson, Nick Nastrini, Jordan Leasure, Nick Robertson, Justin Hagenman (Justin Bruihl, Eddys Leonard, Adam Kolarek, Phil Bickford all traded for cash)

The Dodgers managed to entirely protect their rich crop of blue chip prospects at the trade deadline, although in an ideal world for them, LA preferred to send a couple to the Tigers for Eduardo Rodriguez. And in acquiring the five players that they did, they got the desired two starting pitchers, relief arm, and two right-handed hitting position players, although all of them will require some significant work from the Dodgers coaching staff to improve their performance; the cumulative fWAR of the 5 acquired players was negative at the time of the deadline. Knowing the Dodgers, however, and knowing the potential that Lynn, Kiké, and Rosario possess in particular, these could all be very useful moves in their pursuit for World Series title, and with little cost in a seller’s market.

Devin Mann, a 26 y/o high performer at AAA, is not considered to be much of a prospect, but has hit for most of his minor-league career, and there’s every chance he can become a MLB utility infielder in the near future. Derlin Figueroa went with Mann for Yarbrough; Figueroa is a 19 y/o outfielder in the complex league who is a total lottery ticket, and not considered to be a particularly valuable one. Nick Nastrini is the most valuable of the outgoing minor-leaguers, with serious potential to be a 2/3 starter if he continues his command improvements at this pace. Jordan Leasure is a high-octane relief prospect who should be in the White Sox pen for 2024, and with his electric and unique fastball with its velocity and carry, could be a future closer. Trayce Thompson of course has played for the Dodgers for the past couple of years, and provides an interesting speed and power dynamic. His oddly stark reverse splits, combined with a strikeout issue, likely led to the Dodgers’ willingness to trade him. Neither Robertson nor Hagenman are really prospects, both AAA RHP, which makes sense given the little trade value of Hernández. 

Overall, a bit of an underwhelming deadline given the bargain bin nature of the acquisitions, especially with the botched trade for E-Rod after losing out on Scherzer and Verlander. Considering the potential for improvement with some of the players brought in, I feel comfortable giving them a 6/10. 

San Francisco Giants

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