Dodgers’ Mitch White trade is proving Andrew Friedman’s genius yet again

Los Angeles Dodgers fans were a bit disappointed with the 2022 trade deadline after the Boys in Blue failed to make any big moves. That feeling has long subsided, though, as the Dodgers have been the hottest team in baseball as the summer turns to fall.

While the only big-ticket addition the team made was Joey Gallo, the Dodgers did still make some lesser moves. Jake Lamb was traded to Seattle (where he has been awful) to make room on the 40-man roster and Mitch White was packaged with Alex De Jesus in a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for minor leaguers Nick Frasso and Moises Brito.

Frasso is a promising right-handed pitcher, and at the time the trade seemed like a win for the Dodgers. Time has only made this trade look better for the Dodgers as White has not exactly been what the Jays signed up for.

White has an 8.17 ERA and 1.816 WHIP in six starts with Toronto since being traded. He has allowed at least one run in every single start and has only pitched five or more innings once. In that one instance, he allowed seven runs in five innings pitched against the Los Angeles Angels.

White’s FIP is much lower than his ERA, which indicates that he could still turn it around long-term in Toronto, but he was never going to be such a contributor for the Dodgers. Toronto needs White to pitch well now considering they are protecting just a 3.5-game lead as the third wild card team in the AL.

The Mitch White trade was another stroke of genius by Dodgers’ Andrew Friedman

Meanwhile, Frasso has struggled since being called up to Tulsa (8.22 ERA in three appearances), but there’s still a ton of potential there for him to blossom into a big-league arm. To get that for someone who didn’t really have a spot on the 40-man roster once the team became healthy is huge for the Dodgers.

De Jesus, who is a promising middle infield prospect, also has not taken well to the change of scenery. He’s slashing .222/.304/.358 in 21 games with High-A Vancouver. There’s still promise there, but it’s safe to say he probably isn’t going to turn into another Oneil Cruz at shortstop.

Would White have remained an asset with the Dodgers with the pitching injuries mounting? Perhaps. But the Dodgers have continued to absorb the blows and instead received value for someone who was only ever going to fill gaps at his absolute best.

Whether it be securing superstar talent, building up one of the best farm systems in baseball, or making savvy trades like this, Friedman genuinely seems to be ahead of the curve in just about every move he makes.

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