UPDATE (June 30, 12:35 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced their trade with the Atlanta Braves. Los Angeles also received a Cuban outfielder; complete details here.
While the Los Angeles Dodgers have yet to make the move official, manager Dave Roberts said on Thursday the club would place Clayton Kershaw on the 15-day disabled list. Kershaw received an epidural shot in his back to treat back discomfort he’s battled off and on this season.
He’ll join Brett Anderson, Brandon McCarthy, Frankie Montas, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Alex Wood as starting pitchers on the disabled list. Given the Dodgers have already tapped into much of their starting pitching depth, it left the club without a clear-cut answer to start in place of Kershaw.
One option presumably was Jharel Cotton, currently with Triple-A Oklahoma City and on the 40-man roster. Cotton is also scheduled to pitch Friday for OKC.
Los Angeles was also linked to Tampa Bay Rays reliever Erasmo Ramirez. However, it appears the Dodgers instead turned to Bud Norris, who was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Sources: #Dodgers getting Bud Norris from #Braves.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 30, 2016
Per Joel Sherman of The New York Post, the Dodgers are sending Minor League relievers Caleb Dirks and Philip Pfeifer to the Braves:
#braves are getting LHP Phillip Pfeiffer and RHP Caleb Dirks from #dodgers
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) June 30, 2016
Dirks was 3-2 with a 2.87 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and had 35 strikeouts over 31.1 innings in 28 games with Double-A Tulsa. Pfeifer, the Dodgers’ third-round selection in the 2015 Draft,was 2-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 14 games with High-A Rancho Cucamonga this season.
It’s full circle in a sense for Dirks, as the Dodgers traded an international bonus slot last July to the Braves to get Dirks and Jordan Paroubeck.
Norris last pithced Sunday, throwing seven scoreless innings against the New York Mets. That of course puts him on track to start Friday on regular rest. Norris this season is 3-7 with a 4.22 ERA, 3.84 FIP and 1.37 WHIP over 22 games (10 starts).
A 1-4 record and 8.74 ERA in April led to Atlanta removing Norris from their rotation. The right-hander went 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.96 WHIP over five June starts. Overall, Norris is 3-5 with a 5.02 ERA and 1.42 ERA as a starter. He’s eligible for free agency after the 2016 season.
