Dodgers Way Quick Hits: Trade, Jansen, Muncy

The Dodgers got the win in the final game of three against the Rockies in Los Angeles. Ross Stripling threw six solid innings and Matt Kemp hit a go-ahead home run to ultimately grab a win over Colorado in a final score of six to four. Here is the other news of the day.

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Jon Morosi of MLB Network shared that the Dodgers and Marlins have had preliminary talks about a potential trade between the two teams. Morosi wrote that the Dodgers are showing interest in the Marlins’ three best relievers: Kyle Barraclough, Adam Conley, and Drew Steckenrider. No trade between the teams is close but the potential for something to happen is large and likely. The Dodgers need relief pitching as they head into the dog days of summer, especially after having lost Tony Cingrani, Josh Fields, and Pedro Baez to the disabled list in the last few weeks. To compensate for injured players, a trade for any of those three relievers would bring much-needed relief to a bullpen that has been used heavily and hurt fairly often. On top of the innings help a trade would bring, Kyle Barraclough is having an All-Star caliber season posting a .99 ERA and a 377 ERA+ in 36.1 innings pitched. The only speedbump in a potential deal with The Fish is the price tag. Morosi did not make it known what the asking price would be in a deal but one can safely assume it would not be cheap given the talent the Dodgers poses and the Marlins’ need for the best young prospects they can get their hands on.

Other notes…

• Kenley Jansen is finally showing the consistency and dominance that his viewers have come to expect. After recording his 22nd save of the season, good for fourth in the majors, Jansen lowered his ERA to 2.31 and brought his K9 rate up to 9. Jansen’s rocky start to the 2018 season is starting to become more of a bad memory than a terrifying reality and with the second half of the season still, to come, Jansen will only get better.

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• Dave Roberts told the media on Sunday, July first, that Max Muncy would move forward as the team’s primary second baseman against righties. Roberts shared that Forsythe would receive playing time at second as well but primarily against lefties and when Muncy is playing first or third base. But, perhaps more interesting that Muncy’s move to second base for more permanence in the lineup, Roberts said that Chase Utley would become a full-time bench player, making a start just once a week and pinch hitting when needed. The move is interesting because it has been years since Utley has seriously sat like he will moving forward but the idea comes as no surprise at all. Utley is hitting .225 on the year and has a 0 WAR.