With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Dodgers pulled off a multi-player deal early Monday afternoon.
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The contending Los Angeles Dodgers boosted their depleted rotation Monday, getting left-hander Rich Hill and right fielder Josh Reddick from the Oakland Athletics on Monday for a trio of pitching prospects. When healthy this season, he’s been terrific, using his plus curveball to generate a 2.25 ERA with 90 strikeouts and 28 walks in 76 innings.
Holmes, 20, went 8-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 20 games (18 starts) with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga this year and has posted a 16-11 record with a 3.61 ERA in 55 games (52 starts) in three minor league seasons in the Dodger organization.
Montas began the year at Double-A Tulsa and had no decisions and a 1.93 ERA in three games, one start, before he was promoted to Oklahoma City at the end of May.
A 39-year-old switch-hitter, Beltran has been the Yankees’ top offensive player, leading NY with a. 304 batting average, 22 homers and 64 RBIs. It needed another starter with Clayton Kershaw shelved to a back injury and the bottom of the rotation struggling to do anything of substance from the bump. He’s now on the disabled list, but A’s manager Bob Melvin said in Cleveland on Sunday he expected Hill to be able to come off the DL and start Friday.
The A’s have talked privately about making Hill a qualifying offer at season’s end. After that, Hill will be one of the best #2 pitchers in the Major League Baseball. 816 OPS in 272 plate appearances over 68 games.
According to Fox Sports’s Ken Rosenthal, the trades may also lead to outfielder Yasiel Puig heading for the exits. The 23-year-old right-hander is now out after aggravating his injury and breaking a rib in late June.
Montas is the only player headed to Oakland with some major league experience.
Reportedly, the White Sox are interested in Puig and he could be sent to Chicago for another starting pitcher. He’s an easy upgrade for the Dodgers in either corner, since their leftfielders have hit.229/.306/.373 this year and Reddick could play either corner.
In any event, it is also important to realize that the Cubs don’t need to acquire a left-handed hitting outfielder before August 1. That is going to be a little hard for Hill who is now on the disabled list with a blister problem.
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The Dodgers managed to keep their very best prospects, and the A’s flipped two pending free agents for a few promising arms.
