By Sheharyar In a notable move, the Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their short-handed rotation and added a familiar face to their bullpen on Friday. The team announced the acquisition of starter Lance Lynn and reliever Joe Kelly from the Chicago White Sox. To make this trade possible, the White Sox received outfielder Trayce Thompson, who originally joined Chicago back in 2009 through the draft. Additionally, minor league starter Nick Nastrini and minor league reliever Jordan Leasure were also included in the deal.
This week, Lynn and Kelly join the Dodgers, further enhancing their team alongside recent acquisitions like shortstop Amed Rosario and utilityman Enrique Hernandez. Notably, all these players could become free agents after the current season. Both Lynn and Kelly have club options for the following season and their combined salary for 2023 amounts to $27.5 million.
It’s important to note that the 36-year-old Lynn has had a challenging season during the second year of a two-year, $38 million extension he signed with the White Sox back in July 2021. His performance has been disappointing, with a high 6.47 ERA in 119⅔ innings and a league-leading 28 home runs allowed. Despite these struggles, Lynn agreed to waive his no-trade clause to join the Dodgers.
On the other hand, Joe Kelly, a fan favorite from the 2020 Dodgers team that won the championship, has had a 4.97 ERA in 29 innings this season. He managed to strike out 41 batters and walked 12. However, he faced some setbacks, dealing with injuries that landed him on the injured list twice, once due to a groin strain and another time due to elbow inflammation.
The Dodgers were actively seeking starting pitching during this week, as their rotation faced challenges. Julio Urias experienced ups and downs, Clayton Kershaw was on the injured list, Dustin May’s season ended prematurely, and Walker Buehler was still on his way back from Tommy John surgery. Additionally, Noah Syndergaard struggled before being traded to the Cleveland Guardians in the Rosario deal. As a result, rookies Emmet Sheehan, Bobby Miller, and Michael Grove had to shoulder more responsibility than initially expected.
Earlier in the season, the bullpen was a concern for the Dodgers. Nevertheless, the team’s relievers have improved significantly, boasting a major-league-best 2.67 ERA this month. Players like Caleb Ferguson, Ryan Brasier, Phil Bickford, Yency Almonte, and Brusdar Graterol stepped up to deliver strong performances late in games.
As for Trayce Thompson, he didn’t have a strong season, hitting only .155 in 36 games for the Dodgers. His second stint with the team in Los Angeles was less productive, but he did manage to hit three of his five home runs in the year’s opening game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on April 1. Unfortunately, Thompson suffered a left oblique strain in June and has been on the injured list since then. He recently began a rehab assignment with the Dodgers’ Arizona Complex League affiliate.
The White Sox, currently 22 games below .500 and 13 games behind in the weak American League Central, made significant trades, including sending starter Lucas Giolito and reliever Reynaldo Lopez to the Los Angeles Angels. It’s expected that they will continue shedding veterans before the upcoming trade deadline. After a division title in 2021, the White Sox couldn’t maintain their momentum, finishing 2022 with a .500 record.
With the 2023 season nearing its end and rookie manager Pedro Grifol at the helm, the White Sox might face another rebuilding cycle on the South Side.