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Dodgers Targeting ‘Elite’ Starting Pitching… Including Atlanta Braves’ Teheran

By Alan Carpenter

May 17, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Trayce Thompson (21), center fielder Joc Pederson (31), and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Trayce Thompson (21), center fielder Joc Pederson (31), and right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) celebrate after defeating the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Dodgers won 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 21, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sonny Gray (54) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning at the Oakland Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports /

Whether the Rangers are interested in Teheran or not, the Dodgers certainly are, according to industry sources.

What is motivating the Los Angeles Dodgers as we get ready to turn the corner into July and the full-on trading season?  Is it the fact that LA has not been past the first round of playoffs since 2013?  Not winning a pennant or a World Series since 1988?  Only 2 such titles since 1966?

Clearly, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been scuffling this season whenever anyone not named Kershaw is the day’s starting pitcher.

In 15 starts, Clayton Kershaw is 11-1.  In his 3 no-decision games (1 vs. Atlanta), LA still won.  Thus, the 40-33 Dodgers are 14-1 with Kershaw starting; 26-32 when he does not.

How does this happen?  Mostly because their pitching has been fairly pedestrian aside from Kershaw’s 1.57 ERA, but their offense isn’t lighting up scoreboards either – 20th best in baseball when eliminating pitchers from the mix.

Aside from Kenta Maeda, no other Dodger starter has an ERA under 3.99 (Alex Wood).  Throw him out (they did – he’s on the DL) and no others are better than 4.50.

Pitching on the Shopping List

So Dave Roberts‘ team needs pitching.  In typical modern Dodger fashion, they are not shopping at Walmart, either.  Listen to what their President of Baseball Operations, Andrew Friedman, told the host in a radio interview this week (as reported by DodgerBlue.com):

"Andrew Friedman said the club was scouting players whom they expected to be available at the trade deadline. Friedman added the Dodgers’ focus is on ‘elite-level players,’ though clarified a complete landscape of who will be on the trading block won’t become more clear until the next few weeks. Given their deep pockets, talent in the farm system, and World Series aspirations, the Dodgers are largely expected to be aggressive on the trade market."

That’s not terribly surprising for a club that really wants to not only reach the playoffs, but also win once there.  But it’s not terribly specific.  That info comes from their follow-up in quotes of ESPN’s Jim Bowden:

Bowden said during Monday’s telecast he’s been informed those are the three areas the Dodgers are looking to address at the trade deadline, with Atlanta Braves righty Julio Teheran and Oakland Athletics starter Sonny Gray a focal point:

"“The Dodgers have told me there’s three areas they’re targeting: they want a starter, a reliever and a bat. No. 1 on their list is they want a young starter in his mid-20s. They want a long term, not a short fix. There’s two guys who are on their list: Julio Teheran of the Atlanta Braves and Sonny Gray of the Oakland A’s. What they love about [Teheran] is he is signed through 2019 at approximately $26 million.”"

Next: Okay, so how real could this be?

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