Dodgers trade former top prospect to Rays and sign ex-Giants pitcher

It’s an active Friday for the Los Angeles Dodgers just a couple of days after they signed star slugger Freddie Freeman.

How about another signing and a trade? The action we’ve all been yearning for! And both addressing the pitching staff? What a world.

Within minutes of one another, the Dodgers traded former top prospect Luke Raley to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Double-A reliever Tanner Dodson and signed veteran left-hander Tyler Anderson, who has made stops with the Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners.

One for the bullpen (eventually) and one for the rotation (right now). Both very much needed, given the deficiencies at the moment.

The Dodgers traded Luke Raley and signed Tyler Anderson on Friday

Raley, who only got 33 games as a Dodger after slugging his way up the minor leagues with LA (and in between, with Minnesota), will now be a Ray after failing to make the most of his opportunity in 2021. He batted .182 with a .538 OPS and didn’t show any of his trademark power that was on full display at Triple-A Oklahoma City (19 homers in 72 games).

In return, Dodson heads to LA with his career 3.11 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 98.1 minor league innings (he reached Double-A in 2021, but pitched to the tune of a 4.86 ERA and 1.56 WHIP). Perhaps there’s something the Dodgers think they can unlock after seeing his numbers in Low-A and High-A.

This scouting report on the right-hander talks more about his arsenal and strengths/weaknesses.

And finally there’s Anderson, who will likely serve as back-end depth in the rotation. The lefty owns a 4.62 ERA (100 ERA+) and 1.31 WHIP in 117 career games (113 starts). In 2021, he was in the upper percentiles for average exit velocity, hard hit percentage, walk percentage, chase rate, and fastball spin. LA can hopefully count on 150+ innings from the veteran.

Expect more tertiary moves like this as the Dodgers further tinker their roster to add depth and address some problem areas. Andrew Friedman is on a roll after locking down Freeman and securing that big-ticket signing.

Dodgers bring Jimmy Nelson back as bullpen wild card

The Los Angeles Dodgers are bringing Jimmy Nelson back to help man the bullpen gap, which ... could help ... we guess? He's rehabbing.