Dodgers: Three Potential Rentals to Snag for the Summer

By far the best pitcher I’ll bring up in this piece, Holland has been the definition of lights out for a Dbacks team seemingly devoid of save chances thus far in 2019.

Despite a 2.23 ERA and an 11.03 K/9 (both of which would pace the Dodger bullpen by a fairly wide margin), the former World Series champion has just 10 saves and 23.2 innings pitched to this point in the season, and we’re quickly approaching the end of June.

Even though the Diamondbacks have played above their expectations this season, largely thanks to noted Dodger Killer Ketel Marte (who I dubbed a Dodger Killer this offseason). But this does not mean they won’t be sellers at the deadline, and they would be especially foolish to hold onto rentals like Holland who are on the wrong side of 30.

In his NL career (from 2017 to today), Holland ranks 44th amongst all of baseball’s qualified relievers in K/9 with a respectable mark of 10.32, besting every single Dodger reliever besides Kenley Jansen over that same three-year span.

Beyond his recent success and skill with the strikeout, Holland has playoff experience and lots of closing experience, which brings good and bad news.

The good news is that he would fit well with the Dodgers, who could use a more reliable back-end option than Joe Kelly for the late-season push where Roberts would like to rest Jansen, and also in the playoffs. The bad news is that other teams could use Holland as a playoff battle-tested closer, which could lead to a bidding war for his services between the Dodgers and other potential suitors (ie. the Braves, Cardinals, Rangers, Rays, and Red Sox to name a few speculative options).

But even though he won’t be cheap, he is the most likely to perform well, and the Dodgers really do need quality, no matter a slightly elevated cost.