SEPTEMBER 25: The Dodgers have announced that they’ve released Latos.
SEPTEMBER 17: The Dodgers have designated righty Mat Latos for assignment, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports reports on Twitter. His 40-man spot will be used for the activation of reliever Carlos Frias from the 60-day DL.
Latos, 27, was acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline in a complicated, three-team deal. That move also brought several other pieces to Los Angeles, with the bulk of the assets (featuring lefty Alex Wood and infielder prospect Jose Peraza) coming from the Braves.
It was certainly a calculated to risk to add Latos, who has an excellent track record but had dealt with injuries and performance issues in recent years. He had shown improved velocity and results in the run-up to the deadline, suggesting that his still-youthful arm could have some punch left down the stretch.
Needless to say, Latos did not perform to expectations for the Dodgers. He surrendered 18 earned runs over just 24 1/3 innings, though he did manage a fairly typical 18:6 strkeout-to-walk ratio.
It is hard to see any other teams having interest in the righty for the rest of the season, given his recent struggles and the fact that he wouldn’t be eligible to pitch for a new club in the postseason. But he’ll still probably draw plenty of interest as a buy-low arm when he hits free agency in a few months. Latos will hit the market in advance of his age-28 season, and organizations will no doubt recall that he averaged about 200 frames of sub-3.30 ERA pitching annually over the 2010-2013 seasons.
Wow… but ultimately well-deserved.
Despite pitching pretty terribly, I’m still quite shocked by the move. Didn’t get much run in the bullpen expect for the L against Colorado.
24 innings with 31 hits and 6 walks, yeah let this guy go home and think for a few months.
Carlos Frias was reinstated off the DL as the corresponding move.
Jim Johnson’s next, I hope
I don’t think he’s made for LA. He did fine in Atlanta then all of a sudden he does terrible in LA
Full credit to the Dodgers here. Most teams would have stuck it out and hoped for the best – considering he was part of a big deal. Instead, can’t pitch, goodbye.
what big deal? dodgers pretty much gave up nothing really to get him. it no lost.
Would guess San Diego or Oakland on a one year incentive laden deal with an option.
San Diego???? I don’t think so Niekro, not with the incentive laden deal that they just swallowed on with Johnson. 9MM for nothing over two years.
You can catch lightning in a bottle very rarely…don’t think the Rock Star GM has it in him to convince management to bite down again on one of these deals, and yes I know the Rock Star inherited this deal!
At least Latos is apparently healthy. JJ was trying to rehab the whole time and never threw a pitch for the team. A retread project who is reasonably healthy is a justifiable risk. That said, Latos didn’t do much to endear the fans in San Diego, so I doubt they’d have much patience with him a second time around.
I think Latos will still get a 3 year/24-30 million dollar deal this winter. I wouldn’t mind seeing the Rockies take a chance on him at a 3/24 price tag. Even though he was cut, he still had a 1.6 WAR for the season. A 3 year deal will take him to age 30. At that point he will either cash in a big deal or be out of the league for good.
Mat Latos had reputation of being a jerk and difficult when in SD. Although the front office has changed over, there are enough holdovers to prevent a return to the Padres in all likelihood.
for what the dodgers give up to get him it no lost here. sucks that he couldnt turn it around but at least woods is doing well
seeing as the dodgers only need like 3 or 4 starters in the post season. dodgers dont need latos and can use his spot for someone who can actually help. hopefully a guy like Mike Bolsinger can do well
Reds sold high on Latos last winter. I wouldn’t mind seeing them buy low on him this winter. I watched him strike out many, many batters at Great American Ballpark.
Actually the Reds bought a whole lot higher on him when they gave up Grandal, Alonso, Boxberger, and Volquez to get him. DeSclafani was a decent pick up, but not nearly worth the cost of acquiring Latos in the first place.
I disagree. Latos helped us get to the playoffs in 2012 and won game 1. Reds picked Mesoraco as their catcher or the future, Votto at 1st, Chapman at closer and Volquez was addition by subtraction.
Latos won’t be back in Cincy, he burnt that bridge after he was traded. Saying the Reds medical was horrible. cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/reds/2015/02/22/la…
I agree that it was surplus parts for the Reds, but they still didn’t get equal value out of their surplus. You also can’t deny that Boxberger would be very helpful as the set up man right now. He wouldn’t have to be the closer to be useful. And that Grandal would be better than Brayan Pena and Alonso would be better than the stiffs that have occupied the Reds bench in 2015.
Typical merry go round with these jokes of a first place team… Well we know at least St. Louis has a bye with them..
He never fully recovered from the knee injury would be my guess. He stuff isn’t what suffered it was his location. And if you are having trouble with your lower body such as pushing off or planting then your location suffers most. Someone will take a flyer on him and probably get a pretty good year out of him because he is a pretty good pitcher when fully healthy.
Well that’s more money to add to that list of players who aren’t playing on the team but are on the payroll. Arroyo, Brian Wilson, hector olivera, and now latos to name a few. Anyways I want the mets to pick up latos. He may be able to fill the gap with the lost Harvey innings
Injured, attitude issues, pitching poorly, and cut from a playoff-bound team in September – despite only just being traded for.
Not good news for Mat.
Also, you can put above all his wife
Baseball is Latos intolerant
He’s still a Padre pitcher
perfect Pirates reclamation project with AJ retiring.