Dodgers News: LA's post-deadline trades, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario

The Los Angeles Dodgers may have underwhelmed fans for a moment there at the trade deadline, but Andrew Friedman hasn't stopped wheeling and dealing, and his acquisitions continue to inspire this roster.

Since the deadline, Friedman's made two minor-league transactions to acquire both international bonus pool money and cash considerations, which is in line with the number of other low-leverage trades he made before Aug. 1 (Phil Bickford, Adam Kolarek, Eddys Leonard and Justin Bruihl were all dealt for cash).

On Saturday, the Dodgers made two deals with AL Central teams. First, Friedman shipped off minor-league pitchers Aldrin Batista and Maximo Martinez to the White Sox for international slot money. Both in rookie ball, it would've been a long, long time before either of them reach the Dodgers' MLB roster.

If Friedman has bigger plans for the international signing period, then this was definitely the move to make, since both right-handers have just 23 games under their belt.

Dodgers News: LA's post-deadline trades, Ryan Yarbrough, Amed Rosario

In their second dealing, the Dodgers traded outfielder Kole Calhoun to the Cleveland Guardians for cash after he had spent 35 games at Triple-A OKC. Calhoun, who was with the New York Yankees earlier in the year before LA scooped him up, logged 35 Triple-A games and hit .308 with an .898 OPS.

The Guardians, who shipped off some talent at trade deadline, including lefty slugging first baseman Josh Bell, and lost first baseman Josh Naylor and infielder Tyler Freeman to injuries, definitely had an opening for Calhoun. He made his 2023 debut on Saturday night and went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

And how about two recent Dodgers debuts? Ryan Yarbrough, who the Dodgers acquired from the Kansas City Royals, appeared in his first game with LA on Saturday when he logged 4.1 innings in relief. He allowed just one earned run on three hits and zero walks, but the Dodgers lost to the Padres 8-3 when the bullpen melted down in the eighth inning and allowed seven runs.

Yarbrough, however, represents an important piece of this pitching staff, which badly needs and effective swingman. So, at least the loss brought about a silver lining.

On the offensive side of things, Amed Rosario, who was acquired in a deal with the Guardians for Noah Syndergaard, has turned into a completely new player with the Dodgers. In his first seven games, the veteran is hitting .292 with an .820 OPS and seven RBI. He's also made a couple of highlight-reel defensive plays, which defied his awful advanced metrics that suggested he was slipping with the glove.

If he can maintain solid all-around play and provide the versatility the Dodgers were hoping for, this will end up being a steal, and the fit might call for a contract extension. Meanwhile, after Syndergaard's solid outing against the Astros, the right-hander followed it up with a stinker against the White Sox. He allowed five earned runs on nine hits (four home runs!) in Saturday's loss.

History will likely remember this deal very favorable for Friedman and the Dodgers.