UPDATE (Aug. 1, 1:15 p.m. PT): The Los Angeles Dodgers formally announced their trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Official details can be found here.
Since being hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers as president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman has regularly stressed the importance of having pitching depth throughout the organization. Friedman has also touched on the difficulty in assembling a strong bullpen.
Both of those have proven true during his time in Los Angeles, with injuries ravishing the Dodgers’ rotation this season, and inconsistency plaguing the bullpen through the first two months of the year.
While the Dodgers’ bullpen has since rounded into form, the club reportedly was in search of a reliever ahead of Monday’s 1 p.m. PT non-waiver trade deadline.
Los Angeles was linked to multiple closers, including David Robertson of the Chicago White Sox, but have acquired Jesse Chavez from the Toronto Blue Jays, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports:
Source: #Dodgers acquire Jesse Chavez from #BlueJays.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) August 1, 2016
Toronto receives Mike Bolsinger, who began the year as a starting pitcher but since transitioned to a role out of the bullpen, per Joel Sherman of The New York Post:
#bluejays getting Mike Bolsinger for Jesse Chavez from #Dodgers
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) August 1, 2016
Chavez this season owns a 4.57 ERA, 4.80 FIP and 1.28 WHIP in 39 games. Chavez is averaging 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings, which is his highest mark since 2012. However, he is also allowing two home runs per nine innings.
Over parts of nine seasons in the Majors, Chavez owns a 4.55 ERA, 4.26 FIP and 1.38 WHIP in 292 games (49 starts). The 32-year-old is set to become a free agent after the 2016 season.
Bolsinger went 7-10 with a 4.27 ERA in 27 starts with the Dodgers over the past two seasons. He was 2-1 with a 3.41 ERA in 13 games (two starts) with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.
