Dodgers should take a chance and trade for Matt Harvey

Mets’ SP Matt Harvey has been in the headlines this past week after being suspended for three games by the team for missing his scheduled start last Saturday. The Dodgers should pursue a deal while his stock is low.

Things seem to be going downhill for the 28-year-old pitcher, and the Mets may be looking to move on from him soon. Harvey reportedly apologized to his teammates and coaches Tuesday afternoon for not showing up to the game. Despite this, Harvey may still be in the Mets’ doghouse. This could be a great sign for the Dodgers because Harvey’s stock is at an all-time low right now. If the Mets are willing to trade him, the Dodgers could be the perfect team for him to join.

After last night’s win, the Dodgers’ starting pitching is currently first in the MLB in starters’ ERA at 3.26. However, Harvey can add depth to a rotation that is often plagued by injury. Outside of Clayton Kershaw, the team doesn’t have many reliable arms.

Brandon McCarthy got off to a good start, but he is historically injury prone. McCarthy has only made 30 or more starts in a season once in his career and is on the DL with a left shoulder injury. Hyun-Jin Ryu had only made one start over the last two seasons coming into this year and has struggled to try to find his form again.

Julio Urias is great, but still too young to rely heavily on to provide a lot of innings. Kenta Maeda has been better recently after getting off to a terrible start, but he is not dependable enough to go deep into games consistently.

Rich Hill can not get over his blister problems enough to routinely stay in the rotation while Alex Wood has done a good job for the Dodgers as a spot starter. But that’s the thing; he may just be a spot starter.

The Dodgers are just piecing the rotation together as they continue in the regular season. It’s a formula that has worked for them throughout the regular season but fails come playoff time.

Matt Harvey can provide them with someone that can help stabilize the rotation. Before Friday’s game, Harvey was 2-2 with an ugly 5.14 ERA through six starts and is only averaging 5.1 SO/9 which is well below his career average of 8.8. In his return from suspension, he proceeded to give up seven hits, five walks, and five earned runs (three home runs) in just five innings.

Despite this slow start, Harvey is still one of the most talented pitchers in the game. Remember, this is the guy that lit the MLB on fire with his 2013 season. At his age, he has plenty of time left to rejuvenate his career.

Harvey was billed to be the next great superstar pitcher for the Mets but has since been overshadowed by his teammates Noah Syndergaard and Jacob deGrom.

According to FanGraphs, his average fastball velocity this year is 94 mph, which is still excellent. Maybe a change of scenery is exactly what he needs to get back on track. This Dodgers’ front office has a history of taking chances on injury-prone (and possibly controversial) but talented players, especially if they come at a low cost.

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If the Dodgers can land Harvey for a couple of mid-level minor league prospects or some role players, it’s an opportunity worth looking into.

He is only making $5.13 million this season and is not an unrestricted free agent until after 2018.

The Dodgers’ biggest Achilles heel in the playoffs last season was their starting pitching. Too much pressure is often put on Kershaw every year, and he often gets criticized by the media for his struggles.

In reality, he gets no help, and the Dodgers put him in situations where he has to carry the team on his back. This deal could be a low-risk-high-reward situation for the Dodgers.

Next: Kershaw Hasn't Found His Groove Yet

If the Dodgers can strike gold with Harvey, he has the potential to be the second ace the team desperately needs in the postseason.

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