The Dodgers and Rangers have pulled off a last-minute stunner, striking a deal that sends star righty Yu Darvish to Los Angeles. Second baseman/outfielder Willie Calhoun is the headliner of the return, with righty A.J. Alexy and infielder Brendon Davis rounding out the package going to Texas. To clear a 40-man spot, the Dodgers designated infielder/outfielder Mike Freeman for assignment.
Heading into the deadline, it wasn’t even clear whether Darvish would be available. And as the deadline approached, it seemed perhaps he’d stay with the Rangers — with a high asking price perhaps getting in the way of a swap. But even as the Dodgers added two lefties to the bullpen, they swooped in and added the high-powered righty.
Darvish, 30, was clearly the most impactful pitching rental on the market. While he has only managed a 4.01 ERA on the year — much of that due to an awful recent start — he’s still rolling with 9.7 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9. Of greater importance, perhaps, he has managed to provided 137 innings over 22 starts — putting him on pace to approach or top 200 innings for the first time since 2013.
Never a big groundball pitcher, Darvish has been hurt by the flies this year. He has allowed 1.31 homers per nine on a 15.0% HR/FB rate. But he’s still managing a typical 11.9% swinging-strike rate, working in the zone more than ever, and generally pitching like himself for the most part.
Darvish, when pitching to his ability, is one of the game’s top starters. Since he broke into the majors in 2012, Darvish has been one of the twenty most valuable hurlers by measure of fWAR — despite logging far fewer innings than any other pitchers in his company because he missed significant time after Tommy John surgery.
The long-term elbow question is one the Dodgers won’t really need to worry about, as Darvish will be a pure rental. He is slated to hit the open market at season’s end, when he’ll finish the six-year, $56MM pact he signed when he came over from his native Japan. (Texas also paid over $50MM in posting fees.) Darvish is earning $11MM this year and stands to take home quite a bit more thereafter; he’ll now enter free agency free and clear of any qualifying offer-related draft compensation.
Los Angeles surely didn’t need this addition to win the NL West, which it currently paces in a runaway and will almost certainly take for the fifth straight season. Acquiring Darvish is designed with one goal in mind: driving the club to a World Series win for the first time since 1988. The righty will presumably slot among a group of talented lefties, led by Clayton Kershaw (when healthy) and also including Alex Wood and Rich Hill. Los Angeles can also give innings to Kenta Maeda, Brandon McCarthy, Hyun-Jin Ryu and others, with the precise alignment still to be determined. (It’s worth remembering, too, that Julio Urias was expected to be a major part of the staff; had he not suffered a season-ending injury, this swap may never have taken place.)
Adding Darvish came at a cost, of course, though it did not require the team to part with its most prized prospects. Once the Rangers decided to move the righty — with an eye still to trying to re-sign him in the winter, perhaps — the club surely knew its return would be limited by market forces. While Texas won’t land an elite prospect in the swap, it does add some real talent.
Calhoun is generally the highest-rated prospect in this deal. The 22-year-old is a left-handed hitter who shows big promise at the plate. He cracked top-100 prospect lists entering the season and has responded with an outstanding .298/.357/.574 batting line — with 23 home runs and just 49 strikeouts against 36 walks — over his first 414 plate appearances at Triple-A. The expectation is that he’ll ultimately end up in the grass, where he could combine with Nomar Mazara to make quite a corner outfield pairing for years to come.
The other players in the deal are talented as well. Alexy is a 19-year-old hurler who was taken in the 11th round of the 2016 draft. He has advanced to the Class A level, where he carries a 3.67 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 through 73 2/3 innings. He’s seen as having some projection left in his wiry frame, but is obviously already throwing well at an early stage. Davis, who just turned 20, was a fifth-round selection in 2015. He’s seen as a raw and athletic talent who has a lot of development left, though there are signs of real progress this year. Davis recently earned a promotion to High-A after slashing .245/.357/.403 with eight long balls — with 107 strikeouts but also 47 walks — through 367 plate appearances at Class A Great Lakes.
Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network reported the trade (Twitter links). ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (via Twitter) said three prospects would go in return, with MLB.com’s Jon Morosi (Twitter link) and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter) providing the names.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
wowowowowow
Dodgers should sell
ditto
Sucks for him, but at least he’ll get one playoff series.
Sucks for him to join a historically great team?
Historically mediocre. Good regular season record and then underwhelm in the playoffs.
“Literally have gone to more LCS than anyone since 08. Try again.”
This comment is not relevant. It’s a new year.
and the Texas rangers have how many world series wins?
“Good regular season record”. Understatement of the year. LMAO.
I’d take the Giants 3 World Series wins over 4 LCS losses for the Dodgers. Also fewer WS appearances than 12 other teams since 2008. 13th out of 30 seems pretty underwhelming in the playoffs.
Except the Cardinals
And never passed the nlcs.
How’s last place? Hahahahahahaha. Don’t pout snowflake. Dodgers!!!!
2 series losses 5 total wins. Giants snuck in and their beat hitter that year was career judy Cody Ross. They got lucky. Rangers flat out blew it in 2011. Game 6 walk off homer that pitcher that gave it up to Freese was scared S***less. Its their own fault for not being able close it out twice. And throwing Nelson Cruz in right. He makes Adam Dunn look like Willie Mays.
They have gone to 2.
Lol
PHIllies went to 2.
Cubs went to 2.
Royals went to 2.
Giants went to 3
Cardinals went to 3
You see where I’m going with this?
What does that have to do with anything?
cards went to 4 in a row 2011, 12, 13 and 14
The Giants got lucky 3 times? Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Agree
As many as the Dodgers have in the last 29 years.
I’ll take the Dodgers 6 World Series wins against whatever the Giants did. Btw, how’s things waaaay down in the cellar, are you 30 or 40 gb yet
And still haven’t gotten to the WS. you made hs point for him
You’ll take the dodgers 6 World Series be over the Giants 8? Ok dude
Notice it says “gone to.” Nowhere does it say won.
Don’t listen to haters bro, we got this….Go Dodgers!!!
Last time the Dodgers had a ring, the USSR was still a thing….choked every year since
Yep we’ve had a dry spell that’s for sure
at least the Dodgers can say they’ve been there. the rangers not so much
What does that have to do with anything?
I was really hoping this question would continue throughout the comment section, way to blow it
@ARodriguez No, I don’t think they choked, they did not have the depth of pitching, nor did they have the greatest bullpen, plus Joe Blanton got rorted on a called strike 2 which was called a ball and the next pitch was belted out of the park and cost the Doyers the game.
No, sucks for him to join a team that can’t get it done when it matters. It doesn’t matter if you’re 10-15 games up on August 1st if you can’t close the deal in October. Which the Dodgers and Nationals have a terribly hard time doing of late.
Someone is super jealous of teams in position to actually make moves.
They picked him up specifically to fix that problem
Don’t pout baby girl. Hunter Pence will still rub your tummy.
It’s really hard to believe a Braves fan would be saying this. Of all fan bases, you’d expect the Braves to realize how random October baseball is.
Every year is different. Otherwise, the Cubs wouldn’t be the defending champs. Stop being such a dullard.
Also how randomly the infield fly rule can be interpreted…(cries)
lol
What are you talking about?
Dodgers have not been relevant in years
Um, they have been the most relevant team in MLB over the past five seasons. I don’t think you know what the word “relevant” means.
That has got to be the weed talking..lol
Definitely weed
Let me answer for him. Relevant means being in the World Series. Clearly, they have not.
And they’re gonna be relevant this year if Kershaw doesnt get healthy. He missed 2-1/2 months last year as well.
“Dodgers have not been absent from postseason play in years”. There fixed it for you
Clayton Chokershawrtist is what he means
Someone’s jealous.
Padres fans need not have an opinion…thanks for taking Grandal…now go watch the chihuahuas play
Hope you didn’t strain yourself reaching for that pun.
Dodgers wind up where the Padres are every season. No world series.
Unless you win it all only thing more wins get you is worst draft position.
Dodgers arent winning it all this year.
End of 2017 Padres and Dodgers wont be hoisting that WS trophy.
Fighting Chihuahuas to you…por favor
What a bold prediction… End if 2017 your team won’t be hoisting anything either
Well, you forget that the Padres haven’t even been in the playoffs for over a decade and nothing your front office has done is going to change that anytime soon. So not going to PS is a sure fire way to hoist nothing except bragging rights over the Giants this year.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers keep building teams to win the NL West, giving them the same opportunity as 7 other teams (after the WC game) to get to and win the WS. Once in the PS, it’s always a cr*pshoot, but Dodgers have been climbing that proverbial ladder that most teams must to get better and gain the experience to win it all. This year they are building even more for the PS and hope to be THE hot team in the playoffs. We know we’ll be there in October and only one other NL West team will be there this year, not the Pads and not the Giants who both will be eliminated in August.
Literally have gone to more LCS than anyone since 08. Try again.
Same amount of WS appearances since 08 as the Padres, though.
Same amount of WS appearances as the nationals since 88.
Forget about the Cardinals much? Try again
Tied with the cardinals. Try again
More than means there are no ties. Try again.
I don’t think fstop13 knows what more means
Hey now, they have a little tokyo in LA, not far from dodger stadium. He’ll feel right at home.
Samurai Dodgers + Ryu.
things are heating up
Not at all for our O’s though–except for the major Beckham trade!!
BUT FOR WHO??? This is the biggest question for me.
Calhoun and another 5-10 range guy hopefully
That sounds awful but unfortunately probably something JD would settle for
Hopefully not Calhoun, he’s the organizations future second baseman
No way. He cant field. He’s a future DH. He’s got tremendous power. Thats it.
I guess he was part of the deal, not sure how this deal makes sense for the Rangers. They’ve got Odor and second, unless Beltre plans on retiring in the next couple years. I still remember them not willing to trade J.Proffar
The Rangers got hosed. But Calhoun will likely be a corner outfielder for the Rangers or a DH
How did they get hosed? If they re-sign Darvish like they plan to then it’s a win-win situation.
Calhoun is not a 2B long term. He is a corner OF or a DH in the majors.
I think Barnes is going to the Rangers. Reasons:
1) Called up Kyle Farmer
2) Lucroy was traded yesterday
Nvm 3 Minor Leaguers
Not Verdugo but Calhoun for sure
Nope
Holy dhdhdjdjdjjdjdjfjsllsks
Can you please pronounce that?
I think it might be German
Close. Ukrainian.
Ah. Guess I should brush up on my Ukrainian
Hayoooooo!!!
waaaaaay
Alright let’s see how disappointed JD makes me
Guessing a complicated trade
Oh wow!
WHOA
No Verdugo please…
Cant be! Did you who the A’s got for Gray? Lol.
Darvish is a free agent after this year, doesn’t matter who’s better. More years of control = better return.
Exactly. I can see maybe Alvarez or Calhoun. I would be extremely disappointed if its either Verdugo or Buehler.
Not enough leverage for Texas to get either of them.
Ho boy the rotation will be unstoppable
Let’s see who comes back.
Dodgers should sell
Troll
There it is. I rescind my previous comments regarding the FO not being willing to go for it.
they will sleep easy knowing you took back your comments
uh oh
Finally!!!!! I can stop stressing now, time for a brewski
That is how it’s done son!! Dodgers dominance around the corner !!
Anyone getting 500 and 502 errors on random pages here? Seems to work after a few refreshes. Must be from the elevated traffic?
Boom goes the dynamite! Bet it was Verdugo.
Guess again
Now the waiting game for who
the Dodgers mean business…geez.
Yes!!!!
Wow
Please be for more than a box of Dodger Dogs and a mustard to be named later….
We know your history. Whoever you get will instantly be the best thing ever and you’ll start throwing Darvish under the bus.
Lmao
Honeycutt will make this guy into a contender!
Now three trades to learn the Dodgers OKC/Tulsa depletion results on….
Calhoun and another 5-10 hopefully
He’ll pitch great for two starts and need Tommy John.
RRRGH
FOR WHO!!!!!!???!????!!?!!!?!!!
For Calhoun and/or Diaz (please)?
Nice to keep Diaz. I was very worried that he was going to be included, Friedman did very, very well today!
Gimme Gimme Gimme
Our Farm!!!!!!!!!
the most obvious move of the deadline. glad the dodgers aren’t pulling any punches this year.
Verdugo?
No!
Yu got to be kidding! Awesome. Let’s go Dodgers.
I just heard its yu for bellinger
Come on granny no way you heard that, crank up your hearing aid lol
Yu on a dodgers team that pretty much is the best they’ve been in years. Saw they were trying to get Britton too..that’d be unfair to all other teams.
YESSSSSS!!!
Please Verdugo, please for e and g’s sake, Verdugo.
But seriously, good luck to the Dodgers. You guys got a really great guy here. Not that it needed saying.
No chance its Verdugo!
You can’t blame me for wishing. I’ve heard he isn’t in it though.
Yu got the right stuff now Dodgers!
This just in. Darvish has been placed on the 30 day dl. To be activated October 1st
30 day DL?
Idk. It’s a joke considering they always happen to have a pitcher come back right as one goes down. I’m just joshing relax
Gotcha…try the 10 day DL, the 30 day DL is for mothers who just gave birth
Reports say Buehler and Verdugo…..
Please god make my day.
What reports are you seeing this?? I will be very pleased to get them in return.
Lol
everyone already logged out because this deadline has sucked otherwise haha
they better have got Buehler or Verdugo.
Not a chance
Not a chance on Buehler but maybe Verdugo.
Like I thought, Calhoun and a couple other throw ins
Yup looks like the Dodgers decided what they wanted to pay for a rental and weren’t really to go past good pickup for the Dodgers they have to be the favorite if Kershaw comes back and is Kershaw.
Maybe Kershaw’s back is worse than the Dodgers have said.
Wrong.. he’s already been throwing again 5 days after the “injury”
Yesssss!! Nice deal! But, who did we give up????
What Yu talkin’ about Willis?
Double Wow!
My bet is that the Rangers got desperate at the last minute and the dodgers got a steal.
This one’s a stunner. Dodgers don’t really need him but it’s still a good get, depending on how much was given up.
Uh oh. Calhoun as the headliner along with two more prospects. Some people are going to be upset. 🙂
Dodgers didn’t need him? Must not watch games in October then when it’s Kershaw vs everyone. He needed help and got it.
They have plenty of capable SPs. Much moreso than most playoff teams in history.
Dodgers/Astros WS
Cubs and Yankees. It will sell better.
Astros over Dbacks
Hoping it’s for multiple lower prospects, but a bold move for a rental.
Like Epstein said last year – If not now, when?
The Dodgers have a legit chance to win the WS. They should be going for it.
They’ll still lose a series to the Cubs, no worries.
Please Cubs fans don’t start being like Tardinal fans
So the Dodgers have what like 10 starting pitchers now?
11 shut up
#FLYTHEW
Brad Penny and a ptbnl to Rangers.
Probably gave up Calhoun and pieces. But big pickup and overall great day for Dodgers
You called it!
Verdugo is NOT included in the deal. Source: Jon Morosi.
Blue dominance starts today !
They’re playing .705 ball… blue dominance has been happening for a while.
Except when it counts
We’ll miss Yu
Good luck to the Dodgers this year, and then let’s get him back
Said Friedman should be fired if the Watson move was the only one he made and the Dodgers came up short in October. Got roasted by Dodgers fans who didn’t wanna see Friedman give up prospects. I’m sure they’ll all show up here criticizing Friedman for acquiring the best player on the market …
Calhoun is a steep price and probably will hit like a maniac in Arlington.
But it was tough to fit him defensively. I suspect he could be sufficient in left but this franchise emphasizes defense.
Steep prices are to be paid for top talent. And more teams should be willing to pay it when they’re WS contenders. It’s one of the things I love about Epstein. He’s not afraid to make a bold deal to put his team over the top. Looks like Friedman finally attacked the deadline the same way.
Friedman didn’t give up Buehler, Verdugo or Alvarez. That’s what Dodger fans mean by protecting the farm. Calhoun was great, but he’s always been a trade chip, he’s blocked everywhere. Friedman and Zaidi got LH bullpen help and an ace without giving up the blue chips that matter or many of the 5-20 that make our farm system so deep. They are wizards.
And he is going to resign with Texas in off season. He loves it there goid move for the Rangers
He’s not going to re-sign with the Rangers. Especially when clubs like the Cubs, Dodgers and Yankees have the money to outbid the Rangers. Plus, he has no chance to win a ring with the Rangers.
We just need him for 2017. Whoever give him 175MM/7 years is on them. Good trade FO!
its not verdugo. sounds like Alvarez
Try again. Calhoun could be a nice DH; but our top guys are not moving!
Calhoun is 5’8″ and 187 lbs. Not sure about DH, unless he puts on weight and grows a few more inches.
Altuve is shorter and skinnier and he hits everything. If you can play, then that’s it.
He’s a shorter, less portly, less hitty version of Tony Gwynn
Why does his size matter? If he can put up a .900+ OPS, I don’t care if he’s 4′ 112 lbs or 7′ 350 lbs.
Are you dense?
Why would his size matter for DH…its not like he would be fielding if that was his long term position. If the guy can hit, the Rangers will play him where he best serves the team, whether that be in the field (if his defense is passable) or at DH (if he’s a horrid defender).
1. Size (Altuve is an exception because he’s so short, ergo shortened strike zone, and plays great defense)
2. Age
3. Experience (similar to 2, I suppose)
I can see TEX playing him occasionally as DH, but not a permanent position.
not as dense as your profile picture shows you to be
Wow. Obviously this isn’t a move for the rest of the season – the Dodgers can afford to give him a start off here and there – they have an historic record at this point; This is the 1-2 L-R punch they will need in the postseason. It’s a bit of overkill but hey, they aren’t messing around.
5 teams have had a better regular season record than the Dodgers are on pace to have this season. This move was not about that. It is about having Kershaw only need to pitch on regular rest in the playoffs. It’s a great move.
3 Minor leaguers…with one being Calhoun.
Calhoun, Alexa, Davis
Lance Lynn better
Lol are you a Cards fan?
I remember I said Calhoun oaks and Sheffield, rangers fans laughed 🙂
Ranger fans eating crow with those insane packages
I said Calhoun, may, peters as a Ranger fan. I’ll take this one easily
Dude, there were only like 2 rangers fans spouting off ridiculous statements.
There were more LA fans acting like Yu is garbage and they didn’t even want him.
I said calhoun and sheffield and people laughed. That is actually more than what they ended up getting
Calhoun headlining makes sense
Calhoun the headliner!!!! Ahahahahaha where all he ranger fans at????
The same place you will be once the Dodgers get knocked out of the playoffs early, no where!
Kershaw/Darvish/wood/hill let’s run through the national league
Don’t count your chickens before they pitch. If the Dodgers are to make it to the World Series, they will have to beat either the defending champion Cubs who knocked off Kershaw last year to go to the World Series or beat the Nationals and their pitching staff in a 7 game series. Either way, this NLCS should be one of the great ones. Unless of course the wild card team surprises everyone and knocks of L.A. in the NLDS 😀
Wrong..the Cubs knocked around Blanton who cost us two games. Kershaw wasn’t the reason we didn’t go to the WS last year. Go watch those games again.
Looks like Calhoun is the centerpiece (Dodgers #4 prospect). He’ll be great for Texas. Probably profiles as more of a DH anyway.
Calhoun isn’t Buehler or Verdugo but he’s a good piece. I think he’ll fit well in Texas. I’ll have to do some more research on the other two pieces. I hope Yu helps you Dodgers fans achieve your dreams of winning another World Series and hopefully we get to see him pitching again in a Texas uniform next year.
Willie is a great hitter. Thank you
Best of luck, Calhoun is for real and Davis has significant upside!
I’m surprised Texas traded Darvish, they’re still in the playoff hunt, maybe they’ll resign him in the offseason.
The Rangers will resign him. Darvish has publicly stated he wants to stay with Texas. This will probably be similar to Chapman last year. Strictly a rental.
You hope, lol yu likes winning and is friends with maeda. Rangers are a 3rd place team next 4/5 years.
Oh he’s friends with Maeda?! Cool story. He also happens to be friends with 24 other guys on the Rangers’ roster. I’m not sure why you think Maeda is your ace in the hole.
They said yu doesn’t like the heat of Texas. We have won’t the west title 4 years in a row, on top we are young team and have one of the best coaches in the league. He’ll love the cali weather, don’t be bitter bro!
Also yu barely speaks English, i.e. We have another Japanese player with a translator not to mention a huge rich history of Asian culture in Los Angeles. Goodluck with the golf strokes this offseason!
“we are young team and have one of the best coaches in the league”
Funny, because last year after Roberts pulled Hill during the perfect game all I heard from Dodgers fans was how Roberts was a terrible manager (that’s what I assume you meant by “coach.”). Different day, different story, I guess.
But those 24 players don’t count. Only the 1 on the Dodgers. Lol.
Okay big mouth, you were the same guy who said Texas would get our best prospects lmao, please head back to your cellar.
I’m not sure if you’re talking to me or ctguy, but I never once said the Rangers would get your best prospects. In fact, I was convinced a trade wasn’t happening at all. So I’ll take what I can get.
Talking to CTguy
He speaks fluent English. He just doesn’t in pressers to not have any miscommunication in tones of voice and such cause it’s happened in pass.
Apparently.
As a rangers fan, this trade sucks.
Well it ended up being a buyer’s market. Considering he’s a rental that they really had to deal, plus lack of buyers, I think this package is fine for them. Not getting any of the Dodgers top 4 prospects would have been terrible.
Was obviously the best return they could get for him. He may sign with Texas in the offseason you never know. Calhoun is a good hitter. Overall a good package for a guy that is a free agent at seasons end.
LMAO letssss goooo Friedman best gm
This is arguably a comparable package to the one that got Sonny Gray. Calhoun is 69th vs Mateo at 77. The othe two Yanks prospects are better than the two Dodgers, but they both have major injury concerns. This seems like a fair package for Yu Darvish, but it also underscores how poorly the A’s did for Gray.
Mateo is the 2nd best prospect in that trade. Fowler ran into a wall. There are no injury concerns about him. He is a 5 tool player and will be on the A’s opening day roster. Mateo may be as well.
The A’s got a better return than the Rangers did and they should since Gray has 2 years of team control. He is not the stopper that Darvish can be, but he will slot in at #2 or #3 in the Yankees rotation for the rest of this season and the next two.
madmantx gonna be pisssssssed
Glad it wasn’t Buehler, Verdugo or Alvarez. Great work by the FO to hold onto those 3! Calhoun is still a fine return for Texas though – he’s an AL guy due to having no glove, he just wouldn’t have stuck in the NL, and especially on a team like the Dodgers that value flexibility.
#4, #17, #27 isn’t a bad haul for a 1/2 year rental honestly, and that’s from a deep dodgers farm. Rather that than the QO compensation
Calhoun is legit. Top 3 prospect in most teams farm.
Texas blinked
You obviously don’t know what blinked mean. Go crawl back under your rock.
Texas finally got their way. Feel LA could of got a better deal than that. Especially a top prospect like Calhoun that is MLB ready for a rental. Pressure is on Yu now to help for a ring.
Seems like a totally fair deal for both teams. I think Calhoun will be a Kirby Puckett-like player. He’s and incredibly hard worker and an over achiever. And he can rake. Probably a LF or DH. He’s ready today. Davis is lanky and immature, but has a ton of potential – seems to be growing up this year. Alexy might end up being the jewel here. Calhoun is a sure thing – but Davis and Alexy are not just lottery tickets, they are really good, just very young. Great trade for both teams.
Where’s all the Ranger fans with their top 2 prospects no matter what talk??? You guys just got FLEECED by Friedman and Co!
I get that you’re excited, but to throw out the word “fleeced” is silly. I saw plenty of Dodgers fans that said they didn’t want to see Beuhler, Verdugo, or Calhoun go, and the Rangers ended up with Calhoun. Sounds like an okay return for a team that’s not making the postseason this year and that has a chance to sign him again in the offseason.
That may have been a jab at the two or three ranger fans that have been all over comments sections in the last week talking about how the rangers were going to fleece the dodgers… I am happy that we kept Buehler and Verdugo, but still sad to see willie go, he’s got no glove but the bat is going to play.i hope he does well for you guys. Steep price to pay for a rental, but I can live with it.
Not overly excited about the return but also wasn’t excited about the situation to start with. His camp was throwing out a Strasburg-level contract for after this season, not sure we woulda given him that. Take what we can get and maybe we’ll resign him in the offseason
It’s honestly better than I thought they’d do on a rental.
JD gets fleeced again!
Well, Calhoun certainly has more value than the comp pick the Rangers would have gotten if they hadn’t traded Darvish. And then consider that Calhoun wasn’t the only guy they got. Nothing says they can’t do what the Yankees did with Chapman and re-sign him in the offseason.
exactly.
Also, Alexy was a kid who threw about 160 pitches in a game his senior year after his advisor told the head coach he had alot of scouts coming in to see him pitch. Dodgers paid about 700k to him as an 11th round pick and he’s done well, though with a good number of walks thsi year.
This is the deal I wanted. Calhoun is perfect for Texas and this deal. Good luck Willie and hello Yu beautiful man.
Won’t matter one bit when the Cubs end the Dodgers season in 5 games
Cubs won’t make it back son bank it
I’ll take that wager..Justin!
The Dodgers are going to end up playing the wild card….
No reason to freak out over this. Calhoun+ is far better value than the compensatory pick they would have gotten most likely.
How many middle infielders do the Rangers need?
You don’t need to worry about that… Calhoun is not a middle infielder. He’s gonna hit though. Park him at DH or maybe hide him in left and enjoy the dingers
Calhoun is gonna hit 35+ in Texas.
What a crap return for the Rangers, just what they need more infielders/outfielders when they have zero decent pitching specs. They couldn’t AT LEAST have gotten Alvarez???? Pathetic
We needed a pure hitter to revamp this lineup. good consolation prize to Verdugo. not happy about the deal. LA is a huge winner it seems undeniable. hope these guys pan out. p.s. Darvish should thrive more away from Brocail
You say this as if they have their pick of the litter from another teams farm. Not how it works. Calhoun is a top 3 prospects in almost every teams farm system, and is most likely going to be much better value than what they could get from a comp pick.
I was going to congratulate the Dodgers for going all in to try to win the WS, but their fans on here are such low brow, classless shiite-heads, that I can’t do that anymore after reading this thread.
To the few intelligent and classy Dodgers fans, I’m sorry. People like that ruin it for everyone and are the main reason I now believe that karma will keep the Dodgers out of the WS once again even though they have finally done the right thing and went all in for the win.
Was this comment meant to read as intelligent, highbrow, and classy?
Awwwwwww! Boohoo! What do you expect with all of the BS that we have to hear from other salty fans?
Every year the worst fans come out for every team and a team
Always ends up winning.
When he sees a hard hit fly ball die in the cool air of cavernous Dodger Stadium, Darvish will smile and think “Totoro, we’re not in Arlington anymore.”
Dodger Stadium is far from cavernous. As a home run park, it’s right about average.
Compared to Arlington it is.
Only just. So far this year Arlington is #9 on the HR rate list. Dodger Stadium is #12. Dodger Stadium has a reputation as a pitcher’s park but it is unearned, at least for the last 12 years or so.
And last year 213 were hit in Texas and 169 in LA. But you are right as there are too many factors to pin it on one reason, let alone a ballpark alone. Good trade for them, though. When I was a sportswriter, I covered the WBC finals in 2009 and enjoyed watching Darvish compete in Dodger Stadium. Maybe he re-signs with them, although I’d
much rather see Ohtani in Chavez-who’ll probably go to to the American League.
Arlington isn’t NEAR the hitters park it once was and even the one many still think it is.
I think a lot of it has to do with some of the players who play frequently at dodger stadium. I mean you got arenado, goldschmidt, seager, bellinger, etc
Love Miyazaka/Studio Gibli movies! Spirited Away is one of my favorite movies all time.
Spirited Away is the best! When I went to Japan to write a story on the Hiroshima Carp of the NPB last year, we went to the Ghibli Museum and it was incredible. Can’t wait for the theme park-supposed to be open by the Olympics in three years.
Didn’t think they’d actually make the trade. Didn’t have the confidence in the front office but I was wrong and I’m glad I was wrong. Great move! This this will
Push us over the edge.
Awesomeness = Kershaw, Darvish, Wood, Hill, Maeda, Ryu, McCarthy… the beat goes on.
And those haters, they gonna hate
Yea all that doesn’t matter. U only use 4 in the playoffs, and Kershaw and Darvish are not known as shutdown playoff pitchers.
I love when people try to talk smack about Kershaw in the playoffs. The guy is pretty damn good in the playoffs but gets left in to long when he starts struggling a little and that’s because our bullpen usually sucks l. Last year we should’ve been the team in the WS but Blanton costs us the two games and Kershaw had maybe one game last year in the playoffs that want good but the rest were dominate.
How about the Rockies pitchers in the playoffs????
I’ll wait here for an answer.
Not a Rockies fan. But here is some food for thought. Who was the last team to make it to the world series. Rockies or dodgers?
COL made it and lost, then sank into oblivion since, (pretty much showing that COL team, as talented as it was, was a fluke) surfacing this year playing well (or over their heads) for the first third of the season. All the Colorado, and for that matter, DBacks fans kept ragging that the Dodgers would never catch them, and the head to head series with the Dodgers would show how great their teams would dominate the Dodgers.
Instead, both COL and AZ came in and got SWEPT, then both proceeded to tailspin to now be >10 games behind playing basically < .500 ball while the Dodgers keep finding ways to win. at a historic clip. Lucky for them, they are still better than the rest of the NL not named WSH.
Darvish has had like 2 playoff games and blew 1 while Kershaw will give good starts. It’s there’s to lose
Kershaw turned a corner last postseason, although his overall history definitely still raises questions. But 99/100 teams would take a Kershaw/Darvish led rotation (even with their prior postseason struggles) over the Rockies’ staff with little to no postseason experience.
Apparently hating the Dodgers precludes people from recognizing that they’re having a really, really, incredibly f-ing good year, and just got better.
What does this mean for Jose Miguel Fernandez? Is he going to get a look at 2B in 2018?
Let’s be honest Calhoun wasn’t going to fit on our team. He can’t play defense in the minors and we don’t have a dh in the nl. This was the best possible outcome and we can see how darvish meshes with our team. Could be like rich hill last year.
I was really hoping for Walker Buehler. I’d rather see a 1 for 1 swap for him than a package deal.
Calhoun is probably a top 20 hitter for all prospects. His only problem is his defense. If he DH’s you got a very good player
Anyone would prefer Buehler but that wasn’t realistic. Calhoun’s bat is legit. I think a lot of rangers fans are far too worried about what they didn’t get and not recognizing what they did get. I didn’t want to see willie traded, he’s a potential middle of the order bat.
Dervish and Kershaw have something in common. Both are less than average playoff pitchers.
Is that the whirling type of dervish, or the regular kind?
Thanks for pointing out the autocorrect. What I find interesting is your willingness to bring that up and not the actual statement. It’s hard to debate facts isn’t it?
Typically your just a bitter hater. Also when you expected to go a couple 9 innings of no hit baseball it can be difficult. Starters usually get shortened in playoffs and if you look at the numbers kershaws get lit up in 7 inning. Our length in the bullpen will change this, as we have the second best era in the league. Back to your cellar hater!
Actually, it is. Your sample size on Darvish is two games, a grand total of 11 innings. One good game, one not good. Got any other coins to flip?
Ouch
too much smokie in Colorado.
Lol! I’d say we’ll see in the NLDS, but ur gonna get bounced by AZ before that…
See that’s where stereotypical idiots should refrain from opening their mouths. I am in military serving in colorado. In no way did i bring up the rockies. Thanks for stopping by but The Rockies are not my team. Although it would be hilarious if they knock the Dodgers out.
Care to tell us who your team is then? Or are you just trollin’?
This move had to be made… I for one say great job on both sides!
Logan Forsyth gonna have to change his number.
Here’s a trivia question for you, sports fans.
Yu Darvish has never pitched against the Dodgers, and of course until now he has never pitched for them. But he has pitched at Dodger Stadium. Why and when?
WBC for Japan? Probably around 2012?
2006 or 2009 WBC
WBC is right, the final game of 2009 (Japan v. Korea). He pitched in relief. I was at that game and still have the ticket around here somewhere.
Probably the right return for an elite rental. 2 young lotto tickets with upside, and headliner that can really rake. If Calhoun had a defined defensive position, and played it adequately, he is probably a top 50 prospect. Glad to see he went to an AL team in case he never finds one and is forced to DH. Darvish should boost the Dodgers playoff chances in that crapshoot that is MLB playoffs.
I like this deal for both teams. IMO, Calhoun alone is a very good return for 2+ months of Darvish. I was able to see most of Calhoun’s AFL games and he can flat out hit and should be a great fit in the AL. IMO, after some adjustment time he is really going to hit for the Rangers. IMO, if the Dodgers projected Calhoun to be a league average defensive player they never would have made this trade. If he can develop defensively this would be a steal.
This is going to seem like a waste if the Dodgers don’t make the playoffs
Unless they lose 50 of the final 60ish games they basically all but clinched the west. It will be I interesting to see if L.A. and Houston finish with the same record and they both win the pennant who will have home field. My guess is they’ll go by interleague records.
I tell ya, just when Yu think Yu won’t get traded, Yu do.
I don’t know.
ha mlb traderumors crashed!
Darvish, if healthy, and helps contribute to a championship will end up being worth dealing Calhoun. If not, it will be absolutely sickening losing Calhoun. That kid could fall out of bed, be given a bat and helmet, stroll to the plate and square something up. Furthermore, I’m a performance over opportunity guy. The way this guy rakes the Dodgers would’ve found a way to get his bat in the lineup next season. Most likely left field. Texas just added a huge bat for many years to come.