The Los Angeles Dodgers made significant noise last night as they announced the acquisition of shortstop Amed Rosario from the Cleveland Guardians in exchange for right-hand pitcher Noah Syndergaard.
The move comes as the Dodgers aim to bolster their shortstop position, which has struggled offensively throughout the season.
Rosario, 27, arrives in Los Angeles with high expectations to improve the Dodgers shortstop performance. With a .629 OPS, the team’s shortstop position ranks fifth worst in all of baseball.
The Dodgers recently acquired Enrique Hernández to address the issue, but his versatility made him a valuable asset, and they sought a more dedicated shortstop in Rosario.
TRADE: The Guardians are acquiring Noah Syndergaard from the Dodgers in exchange for Amed Rosario, per @ragazzoreport pic.twitter.com/VgtR2nQq8H
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 26, 2023
“I know he’s a heck of a ballplayer,” Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said of Rosario.
On the other side of the trade, the once-dominant Noah “Thor” Syndergaard departs from the Dodgers after a short stint marked by injuries and struggles. The 30-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $13 million contract in the offseason but posted a disappointing 7.16 ERA in just a dozen starts.
Syndergaard will join the Cleveland Guardians in Chicago for their upcoming four-game series, but his debut date remains uncertain. He has been rehabbing at Triple-A since landing on the injured list in early June due to a blister on his right index finger.
Chris Antonetti, Cleveland’s President of Baseball Operations, spoke about the trade…
“We felt that this made sense for us, and now is the right time to give Gabby and Tyler some more opportunities,” Antonetti said. “We also wanted to be respectful to Amed. We recognize his place on our team and as a veteran leader and his expectations of himself and transitioning him to a lesser role would had an impact on him and the team and we were very mindful about doing that.”
The Guardians will indeed fill the void left by Rosario with their promising young infielders. Tyler Freeman and Gabriel Arias are expected to step up, while 22-year-old Brayan Rocchio, who impressed during his major league debut earlier this season, will also be in the mix.
Rosario’s contract is set to expire this winter, making him one of the youngest players in the upcoming free-agent class. He made his debut with the New York Mets at just 21 years old and was later traded to Cleveland as part of a package deal for star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starter Carlos Carrasco.
The Dodgers hope that Rosario can recapture the form that led him to register more than four wins above replacement last year. Cleveland had discussed a long-term contract extension with Rosario before he settled for a $7.8 million salary in arbitration.
As the trade deadline approaches, the Guardians may continue their pursuit of offensive talent to enhance a lineup that has scored just 420 runs this season, ranking 25th in the major leagues.
Despite the pitching woes brought on by injuries, their rotation has shown promise, boasting a 4.07 starters ERA that ranks 10th in the league.
On the other side, the Dodgers bolstered their roster as they attempt to make their annual run at a World Series title.
Who do you think got the better of the trade?
Will Syndergaard ever come close to being the pitcher he used to be a few years ago?