Dodgers DFA Mat Latos

In news that I’m sure will disappoint Dodger fans everywhere, the Mat Latos era looks to be over.

Try to hold back the tears guys.

If you’ve been living under a rock, Latos had an extremely unsuccessful stint with the Dodgers. He went into the trade deadline hot, only failing to go at least six innings once in seven starts after returning to Miami from the DL. He lowered his ERA from 6.12 to 4.48, and Farhan Zaidi and Andrew Friedman decided it was worth taking a chance on Latos. A 27-year-old pitcher entering free agency should be pretty motivated to pitch well and prove he can be a good clubhouse guy right?

Aug 8, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Mat Latos (55) on the bases against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the second inning at PNC Park. The Pirates won 6-5. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

His first start actually went fairly well. On August 2nd, Latos threw six innings and allowed four hits and one run against the Angels. The Dodgers won the trade! And then everything went down the drain. Latos allowed 10 runs in 8 2/3 innings in his next two starts, and was removed from the rotation during a long roadtrip that gave the Dodgers enough off days to keep their horses on regular rest and realign the rotation so Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke could face the Giants.

Latos got another start in San Diego and allowed four runs in four innings. All of those runs came in the first two innings, and he pitched a scoreless third and fourth before being pulled. He was not happy about being removed, criticizing Don Mattingly for taking him out after he got in rhythm.

Latos’ final appearance came in the Dodger loss on Tuesday, where he pitched in the 16th and final inning. He gave up the game-losing homer to Nolan Arenado. And that ended the Latos era.

Latos finished with an extremely ironic 6.66 ERA (4.01 FIP) and an 0-3 record in five starts (six appearances) for the Dodgers. I still don’t classify that trade as a loss, because I had to look up the three prospects traded for him and couldn’t name them off the top of my head. Kevin Guzman, Victor Araujo and Jeff Brigham. Araujo and Brigham actually have decent stats at high-A ball for the Marlins, but at that cost, the risk was worth it.

(EDIT: With Latos DFA’d, the Dodgers announce they have reinstated Carlos Frias from the 60-day DL.)

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