Dodgers Trade Wilmer Font to the A’s for Logan Salow

The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded right-handed pitcher, Wilmer Font, to the Oakland A’s in exchange for minor league closer, Logan Salow. Font was designated for assignment on Monday, April 23rd, and it comes as no surprise that he has been moved elsewhere following that move.

When the year began, Wilmer Font forced his way onto the opening day roster by virtue of having no options left. The team’s hands were tied in that they could not send him down and he, like Trayce Thompson, had to make the team regardless of performance.

For a moment, it looked like this predicament would work out. Font opened 2018 with a couple impressive performance but those quickly deteriorated to lackluster outings filled with runs for the opposition. Font surrendered five home runs, tied for fourth in all of baseball, in just 10.1 innings pitched.

On top of the home runs, Wilmer Font’s statistics were less than optimal. During his time with the Dodgers, he allowed a .383 batting average against and a WHIP of 1.84. His ERA was 11.32.

The issue with home runs, the constant battle to get through innings, and too many pitchers on the roster, all contributed to Font ultimately being placed on waivers.  Dave Roberts shared that the team had no need for nine relievers and was also quite truthful about Font’s situation:

“We did not have enough innings for Wilmer to pitch consistently. We know that there is a market for him.”

In return for Wilmer Font comes a very intriguing left-handed pitcher. 23-year old Logan Salow will join the Dodgers organization and his story and statistics should make for some nice minor league depth.

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Salow, unlike many baseball players, attended and graduated college. Logan attended the University of Kentucky where he served as the team’s closer and go-to left-handed reliever. In 2017, after his senior year at Kentucky, Salow was drafted by the A’s as the 171st overall selection.

It was after Salow was drafted that he would join the A’s farm system and it was there that he would begin to shine. In his first professional season, Logan Salow pitcher in 16 games and 24.1 innings pitched. Across that stretch, the young lefty maintained a fantastic ERA of 1.50. He also struck out a total of 29 batters while walking 15.

Salow’s knack for strikeouts and ability to pitch late in games should serve him well in a Dodgers organization that relies heavily on its bullpen and pitching depth. With Salow having four years of college experience, something that amounts to a few years in the minors, he could easily be a quick riser through the system.

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All in all, this was a trade that needed to happen. The Dodgers got rid of Wilmer Font who really had no place on this roster and acquired a young pitcher with very nice potential to perform well this season and for many to come.