The Dodgers acquired Amed Rosario from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Rosario, a defense-first shortstop/second baseman, joins the Dodgers before of the MLB trade deadline for the second year in a row.
The Dodgers acquired Rosario, 28, from the Cleveland Guardians on July 26, 2023, in exchange for Noah Syndergaard and cash. In 48 games with the Dodgers, he went from shortstop to second base and hit.256/.301/.408 while providing solid defense in a position of necessity.
Rosario has a.307 batting average,.331 on-base percentage, and.417 slugging percentage in 76 games for the Rays this season. Each of these would be his highest totals over a full season since 2019, when Rosario was in his third season with the New York Mets.
The Dodgers will allegedly send pitcher Michael Flynn to Tampa in exchange. Flynn, a 27-year-old right-hander, with 50 strikeouts in 46.1 innings and a 4.95 ERA in 28 relief appearances for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers required to make a comparable adjustment on the 40-man and 26-man rosters, as Flynn is not on either. The Dodgers don’t play in San Diego until Tuesday, so the 26-man roster move may not be confirmed until then.
Ryan Yarbrough, a left-handed pitcher, was designated for assignment on the 40-man roster, which is surprising.
Yarbrough, a 32-year-old left-handed pitcher, is one of the slowest throwers in baseball. For the most part, his breaking-ball heavy finesse repertoire is effective. In 32 games (67.1 innings), he allowed 52 hits and walked 25 hitters.
The deadline for teams to trade major league players who have not cleared waivers is 3 p.m. PT on Tuesday. The Dodgers’ biggest move on Monday was not even the trade for Rosario; it was the three-team transaction that brought White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman to Los Angeles.
Kopech will likely take Yarbrough’s job in the bullpen. While Edman is now on the minor league rehab path following off-season surgery, Rosario may instantly replace Nick Ahmed at shortstop as an offensive upgrade.
In addition to Edman, the Dodgers are waiting for the return of injured infielders Mookie Betts (hand) and Miguel Rojas (forearm discomfort).
