The Los Angeles Dodgers finalized their trade to acquire Joe Kelly and Lance Lynn from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for Jordan Leasure, Nick Nastrini and Trayce Thompson.
The trade was the Dodgers’ third in the past four days. The flurry of activity began Tuesday, when they reunited with Kiké Hernández via trade with the Boston Red Sox.
Then on Wednesday, the Dodgers traded Noah Syndergaard to the Cleveland Guardians for Amed Rosario. The Dodgers officially activated Rosario on Friday and optioned Yonny Hernández to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Hernández and Rosario both filled the Dodgers’ search for a right-handed position player, and Kelly and Lynn addressed their needs for pitching.
Justin Bruihl and Eddys Leonard were designated for assignment in order to make room for Kelly and Lynn on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
Dodgers trade details
Joe Kelly acquired
Kelly went 1-5 with a 4.97 ERA, 3.25 FIP and 1.31 WHIP in 31 appearances for the White Sox this season. He missed just over two weeks this month due to right elbow inflammation. Kelly also landed on the 15-day injured list in April because of a right groin strain.
Some of Kelly’s peripherals suggest he could be primed for improvement with minor adjustments, as he’s striking out a career-best 32% of hitters and inducing ground balls at a 56.2% rate. One notable change for Kelly is he’s largely abandoned throwing his curveball, which the Dodgers leveraged.
In his first stint with the Dodgers, Kelly went 7-4 with a 3.59 ERA in 115 games (one start) from 2019-2021. The White Sox signed Kelly to a two-year, $17 million contract in February 2022.
The 35-year-old is on track to become a free agent after the 2023 season.
Lance Lynn acquired
Lynn is 6-9 with a 6.18 ERA, 5.22 FIP and 1.44 WHIP in 115 innings over 20 starts this season. Despite allowing an MLB-worst 79 earned runs and 28 home runs, Lynn should provide the Dodgers with length in starts.
Lynn’s contract includes an $18 million team option for 2024, which the Dodgers can decline in favor of a $1 million buyout.
Although the Dodgers were among the teams on Lynn’s no-trade list, it became apparent over recent days the veteran starter was willing to approve a deal.
Nick Nastrini traded
The Dodgers drafted Nastrini out of UCLA in the fourth round in 2021. He was among the organization’s fast-rising pitching prospects and part of a talented Double-A Tulsa starting rotation.
Nastrini experienced some regression from his performance last year, as he went 5-3 with a 4.03 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts in 73.2 innings over 17 starts for the Drillers.
Trayce Thompson traded
Thompson has been on the injured list since June 4 because of a left oblique strain. The Dodgers initially expected he to only be out a brief period, but manager Dave Roberts said Thompson’s oblique strain was discovered to be more severe than first believed.
Thompson was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 11. He recently began a rehab assignment and was instrumental in Triple-A Oklahoma City getting a win on Thursday.
Friday’s trade marks the end of Thompson’s second stint with the Dodgers. He originally played for the team from 2016-2017, before returning last year via trade with the Detroit Tigers.
Thompson batted .223/.319/.449 with 27 doubles, two triples, 32 home runs and 87 RBI in 217 games over parts of four seasons with the Dodgers.
The trade marks a return to the White Sox, whom Thompson made his MLB with in 2015.
Jordan Leasure traded
Leasure was also drafted by the Dodgers in 2021, taken in the 14th round, and he too was with the Drillers.
The right-hander was 2-2 with a 3.09 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 29 relief appearances for Tulsa this season. Leasure is 5-4 with a 3.46 ERA in 86 games during his Minor League career.
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