The Dodgers re-acquired Amed Rosario from the Tampa Bay Rays Monday. It’s the second consecutive year the Dodgers have acquired Rosario, a defense-first shortstop/second baseman, ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Ken Rosenthal of the Athletic was first to report the news.
Rosario, 28, was acquired by the Dodgers on July 26, 2023 from the Cleveland Guardians for Noah Syndergaard and cash. He immediately switched from shortstop to second base, and slashed .256/.301/.408 while providing steady defense at a position of need in 48 games with the Dodgers.
In 76 games with the Rays this year, Rosario had a .307 batting average, a .331 on-base percentage and .417 slugging percentage. Each of those would represent his highest numbers over a full season since 2019, when Rosario was in his third season with the New York Mets.
The Dodgers will reportedly send pitcher Michael Flynn to Tampa in return. Flynn, a 27-year-old right-hander, had 50 strikeouts in 46.1 innings to go with a 4.95 ERA across 28 relief appearances at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
The Dodgers needed to make a corresponding move on the 40-man and 26-man rosters because Flynn is on neither. Since the Dodgers don’t play until Tuesday in San Diego, the 26-man move might not be finalized until then.
The 40-man roster move is a surprise: left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough was designated for assignment.
Yarbrough, a 32-year-old left-hander, is one of the slowest-throwing pitchers in baseball. For the most part, his breaking-ball heavy finesse repertoire works. In In 32 games (67.1 innings), he’d allowed 52 hits, walked 25 batters and struck out 39 while pitching to a 3.74 ERA.
The deadline for teams to trade major league players who have not cleared waivers is 3 p.m. PT Tuesday. The trade for Rosario wasn’t even the biggest move the Dodgers made on Monday; that would be the three-team deal that sent White Sox pitcher Michael Kopech and St. Louis Cardinals infielder/outfielder Tommy Edman to Los Angeles.
Kopech figures to slot into Yarbrough’s place in the bullpen. While Edman is currently on the minor league rehab trail following off-season surgery, Rosario can immediately slot in at shortstop as an offensive upgrade over Nick Ahmed.
In addition to Edman, the Dodgers are awaiting the returns of injured infielders Mookie Betts (hand) and Miguel Rojas (forearm tightness).
Photo Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
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