Dodgers Rumors: Mychal Givens the latest reliever linked to LA

With each day that goes by, the Dodgers become linked to another trade candidate. Mychal Givens is the latest player linked to LA.

The Dodgers are almost exactly one week away from the trade deadline and another reliever has popped up on their radar.  This time it is Mychal Givens, the current closer of the Baltimore Orioles.  MLB insider Ken Rosenthal noted in his latest article that the Dodgers, Braves, and Indians are all rumored to be interested in the closer.

Givens is one of the few assets that the last place Orioles have to sell and they would be selling low if they deal him away this month.  Although he has allowed no runs in 6 1/3 innings during July, Mychal Givens is just eight for thirteen in save attempts.  He posted an ERA of 4.82 in April and 6.39 in May.

As far as relievers go, Givens seems to be feast or famine this season.  He is averaging 12.2 K/9IP but has given up plenty of walks at a rate of 3.9 BB/9IP.  Although he has allowed low batting averages against of .229 to lefties and .202 to right-handed hitters, Givens has allowed a home run rate of 1.88 HR/9IP.

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To put that in perspective only Yimi Garcia, Caleb Ferguson, and J.T. Chargois have a worse home run rate among Dodger relievers with at least ten innings pitched.  If the Dodgers are pursuing a true difference-maker in the bullpen, they would be smart to avoid Mychal Givens.

Stuff wise what does Givens bring to the table? Givens is primarily a fastball pitcher as he has thrown it 78% of the time and it averages 96 miles per hour.  He also has a slider in the upper 80’s and a changeup that he uses as his out pitches.  Mychal does have some sink on his fastball and when he is at his best, he induces plenty of groundballs with his changeup and sinking fastball.

Like most of the relievers on this year’s trade market, Givens is not a rental and he has two more seasons of arbitration before becoming a free agent after the 2021 season.  Since he is having a down season according to his standards, this is a chance for Andrew Friedman to buy low on a reliever if the Dodgers believe in Givens’ stuff.

There are plenty of teams looking to add bullpen help but not all the sellers have come out and deemed themselves ready to sell.  The next few days the trade market should become more clear, and perhaps the Dodgers will strike with their first deal before the trade deadline.