While the Los Angeles Dodgers have been tied to the likes of Zach Britton, Brad Hand and Justin Wilson, each came with a high asking price. The Chicago Cubs met that for Wilson, while also acquiring Alex Avila from the Detroit Tigers.
Although the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres showed a willingness to part with Britton and Hand, respectively, neither team appeared overly inclined to do so. Nonetheless, the Dodgers’ focus was said to have been on acquiring Britton.
In the even they are unable to pry the closer from the Orioles, the Dodgers are discussing a potential trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates for Tony Watson, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports
Source: #Pirates trade Tony Watson to #Dodgers, pending medical review. First: @JonHeyman.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 31, 2017
According to J.P. Hoornstra of the Southern California News Group, the Pirates received Angel German and Oneil Cruz in exchange for Watson:
The Dodgers traded RHP Angel German and INF Oneil Cruz to the Pirates for Tony Watson.
— J.P. Hoornstra (@jphoornstra) July 31, 2017
Both Cruz and German were with Low-A Great Lakes, and are not considered to rank among the Dodgers’ top prospects.
Watson is 5-3 with 10 saves, seven blown saves, a 3.66 ERA, 4.69 FIP and 1.52 WHIP over 47 games this season. Left-handed batters are hitting .308/.357/.354 off him, while righties have nearly fared just as well at .303/.360/.525.
Watson’s 11 hits per nine innings and 1.4 home runs per nine are on track to set a career-worst marks, while his 6.8 strikeouts per nine would tie a career low. Watson, an All-Star in 2014, is a career 31-16 with 30 saves, a 2.68 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over parts of seven seasons with the Pirates.
The 32-year-old, is eligible to reach free agency after this season. He fits the profile of a “bargain,” which one report indicated the Dodgers were in search of as demands for Britton, Hand and Yu Darvish remained high.
