The Los Angeles Dodgers made a move to bolster their pitching staff on Tuesday, acquiring pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals. The Dodgers had pursued Detroit Tigers ace Eduardo Rodriguez but were rebuffed when Rodriguez used his no-trade clause to block the trade, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Yarbrough, a 31-year-old left-hander, brings versatility to the Dodgers’ pitching corps. He was 4-5 with a 4.24 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 14 appearances, including seven starts, with the Royals. The Dodgers sent minor league infielders Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa to the Royals in exchange for Yarbrough.
The Dodgers had previously traded for pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly last week but missed out on acquiring some of the biggest names available at the trade deadline.
“We were aggressive in pursuing the top end of the market,” said Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. “But for the group below that, we were more price-sensitive and looked for versatile arms that fit well with our existing group and help augment our depth.”
The Dodgers are eagerly awaiting the return of three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, and lefty Julio UrÃas, who has been dealing with an issue with the index finger on his throwing hand. The team is also hoping that Walker Buehler will be back in September after rehabbing from Tommy John surgery.
Despite missing out on some top targets, Roberts expressed confidence in the talent on the Dodgers’ roster.
“I like our ballclub,” Roberts said. “You’re always trying to get better, but as it stands right now, we just have to get our guys back to health. It’s still a very, very talented ballclub.”
As for Yarbrough’s role, Roberts stated that he wasn’t sure whether Yarbrough would be used as a starter or out of the bullpen, but he described him as “a versatile arm that fits in with our group and helps stabilize” the pitching staff.
In other moves, the Dodgers traded lefty Justin Bruihl to the Colorado Rockies for cash. Bruihl had been designated for assignment to make room for Lynn and Kelly. The Dodgers also sent righty Phil Bickford and lefty Adam Kolarek to the New York Mets for cash considerations.
Bickford had been designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Saturday, and he posted a 5.14 ERA in 36 games this season. Kolarek spent most of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City and had a 2.40 ERA in 33 games.
