Dodgers Rumors: LA in on Edwin Diaz while considering Marcus Stroman

The Dodgers rumors continue to heat up with just a few days left before the trade deadline. Edwin Diaz and Marcus Stroman are the newest two pitchers linked to LA.

With the trade deadline looming Wednesday at 4 PM Eastern Time, the Dodgers’ rumors continue to heat up.  The latest two pitchers that have been connected to the Dodgers are Edwin Diaz and Marcus Stroman.  While Edwin Diaz was suggested by Buster Olney a few days ago, Mike Puma of the New York Post gave the first concrete rumor involving the Dodgers and Diaz.

It was just a season ago that Diaz saved a whopping 57 games while only blowing four saves all season.  This year, Edwin Diaz already has four blown saves and is 22-26 in save opportunities.  He also has an ugly 1-6 record to go with an inflated 4.81 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.  This would be buying low on Diaz if the Dodgers were to acquire him.

Contract wise, Edwin has three more seasons of control left through arbitration and he will be a free agent after the 2022 season.  He is still just 25 years old and could represent a possible successor to Kenley Jansen if the Dodgers acquire him and fix him into his Seattle form.  The one odd stat is that right-handed batters have hit over .300 against Diaz this season.

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Marcus Stroman is also another pitcher the Dodgers are reportedly considering pursuing if they are unable to acquire the relief help they need.  With relievers at a premium, the Dodgers could shift  Kenta Maeda to a relief role if another starting pitcher like Stroman is acquired.  That would give the Dodgers a potential playoff rotation of Ryu, Kershaw, Buehler, and Stroman.

If Rich Hill is able to make it back from his forearm injury then he could also shift to the bullpen and solidify the pen for the postseason.  That would also help him work his way back faster since he would not need to build up his pitch count.  Hill’s rehab timeline is going to be very tight with his return coming in the final month of the regular season.

Stroman has one more season of control left via arbitration before he is a free agent.  While he has been plagued by inconsistency throughout his career, Marcus Stroman is having a very good season sporting a 2.96 ERA to go along with a 1.23 WHIP and a .248 opponent’s batting average.  Shifting from the vaunted AL East to the NL would surely help improve Stroman’s numbers.

Marcus Stroman has made five career playoff starts and has a 4.40 ERA.  He also helped Team USA win the last World Baseball Classic so he has pitched in big games before.  Stroman’s stuff would play up against much weaker opponents in the National League.  Add Stroman and Edwin Diaz as names to watch for the Dodgers leading up the trade deadline.