Dodgers Complete a 4-Player Trade With the Athletics
The Dodgers and Oakland Athletics have made another trade. It’s not the one fans in Los Angeles were hoping for, but it does help pave the way for more to happen in the coming days.
The Dodgers are sending outfielder Cody Thomas to Oakland as part of the deal. Thomas is the number 29 prospect in th system, and he made a name for himself during the first round of 2020 Spring Training. Los Angeles is also shipping LHP Adam Kolarek off to Oakland in the swap. Kolarek came over in a deadline move during the 2019 season.
In exchange, the Dodgers will be getting infielder Sheldon Neuse and RHP Gus Varland. Neuse is ranked as the A’s number 5 overall prospect while Varland comes in at number 28 on the list. This trade not only frees up roster spots for Los Angeles, but it reloads their farm system just a little more as well.
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Neuse came to the A’s from the Nationals as part of the Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson trade. In his most recent tour of Triple-A, he slashed .317/.389/.550 with 27 homeruns in 126 games. Worth noting, third base is reportedly by far his best position, something that the Dodgers will no doubt love in the long run.
Varland is probably a little further out from making an impact at the big league level. The A’s grew to love him for his work ethic and ability th throw strikes early on, but Tommy John surgery in 2019 set him back considerably. His fastball sits in the low to mid-90s and his slider has great potential to. The Dodgers have a history of working well with pitchers coming off of TJ, so this is a great place for him to land.
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Disappointing to see Thomas go but a 3B prospect in return isn’t bad. It’s the roster spot needed for JT.
Sheldon Neuse bats RH, so I’m fine with this deal as he may become a 3rd base option at some point.
Neuse is 26 and hits right-handed and has some power. His minor league record suggests he is improving his contact rate. Interesting…Maybe a Rios, Neuse platoon?
I don’t see the purpose of the Neuse trade, He is a right handed batter but not a legit hitter. I don’t know who this Varland guy is but hopefully he is an upgrade. Kolarek did his job. I just hope this dumps enough salary to get JT
With this move, and utility guys like Taylor and McKInstry already here, I think Friedman knows Turner is leaving. And a platoon with Neuse and Rios could be very good. Muncy will have to bat third, with Belli in cleanup.
If Betts bats first, Seager(LHB), Muncy(LHB), Bellinger(LHB), that’s three consecutive left-handed batters. Opposing teams Will stack LHP against Dodgers!
“Not the trade Dodger fans were hoping for….”
Who says Dodger fans were hoping for Chapman? I think that most Dodger fans want Turner, not Chapman.
Dodgers need a few relievers that have options to come up to the bigs and be sent back down. Adam and Dylan were out of options. These trades are GREAT! AF does it again
Yes I for one am a great Dodger fan and have been one for a long time. Keep Turner and forget about Chapman