With the non-waiver trade deadline on the horizon, the Los Angeles Dodgers are among several teams believed to be in the market for pitching.
The club has been linked to the likes of Zach Britton and Brad Brach, both of whom have been traded, plus a slew of Miami Marlins and Tampa Bay Rays relievers. Additionally, one of the newer names the Dodgers have been connected to is Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela.
Los Angeles reportedly scouted Kela, plus fellow Rangers relievers Jose Leclerc, Alex Claudio and Jake Diekman. According to T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com, the Dodgers are heavily involved for Kela:
The action on Rangers closer Keone Kela remains persistent as Tuesday’s Trade Deadline approaches, with the Dodgers and the Braves appearing to be the most aggressive.
With the exception of Diekman, each of the aforementioned is under team control for multiple seasons. It should be noted the Dodgers have primarily added to their roster at the trade deadline with players who are months from reaching free agency.
Kela has 24 saves, a 3.44 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, and is holding opponents to a .206 batting average. Additionally, the right-hander is averaging 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kela presumably would net the Rangers a significant haul, which might ultimately deter the Dodgers, who traded five prospects for Manny Machado.
As part of our efforts to help you understand how we handle the personal information you share with us, and in preparation for the new European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), we’ve updated our Privacy & Cookies Policy. The updated Privacy & Cookies Policy will take effect on May 22, 2018. By using our services on or after that date, you’ll be agreeing to our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy. We recommend that you read our updated Privacy & Cookies Policy in full.
