Dodgers: Top 5 Non-Waiver Deadline Trades in the Past 5 Years

3. Grant Holmes, Jharel Cotton, Frankie Montas for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick

Here’s when things get more interesting. The blockbuster deal that brought the Dodgers its much-needed number two starter and a replacement for a struggling Yasiel Puig is only third on the list. There are reasons why there are two better trades, but first a look at the players. Grant Holmes is not even in the majors but is struggling in the minors with an ERA close to 5. Jharel Cotton is in the majors but isn’t doing much to help his team. He’s 5-8 with a 5.17 ERA and only 67 strikeouts in 76 innings. Frankie Montas is doing much worse. In 28 big league innings, he has a 6.91 ERA and a 1.77 WHIP.

Rich Hill was the centerpiece of the trade, and he proved himself worthy of it. In his six regular season games with the Dodgers, he had a 1.83 ERA. Though those were stellar numbers, he was brought in for the postseason. After a rocky couple of starts, he shutout the Cubs in six innings allowing only two hits. This season, again after a rocky start, he’s found his dominant 2016 form. After surrendering seven runs to the Indians, he’s only allowed six runs in his last five outings. He’s also gone seven innings in three of his last four starts, striking out at least nine in his last three with only one walk.

Josh Reddick didn’t hit well while in the National League, but he provided some great defense. He had a flash of excellence in the NLCS, but only generated two runs in the postseason. Reddick is a reason why this trade wasn’t ranked higher, as he’s been more valuable for the Astros this year than he was in his brief stint with the Dodgers.