Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Mike Leake Joins Gallardo As Backup Plan

Mike-Leake1

The Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to make a huge splash at the trade deadline, as they are armed with money, prospects and the need for starting pitching.

A pair of left-handers sits atop the team’s wish list in David Price and Cole Hamels; however, Hamels has a handful of suitors and the Detroit Tigers are unsure if Price will be moved. The Philadelphia Phillies have made a deadline of their own for their left-hander, while the Tigers are another loss away from possibly deciding to become “sellers”. If the Dodgers can’t get one of the left-handers, they reportedly had a backup plan of Texas Rangers’ right-hander Yovani Gallardo. It appears another name has been added to that backup plan.

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, the Dodgers may be interested in a right-hander from the NL Central:

Leake is 8-5 with a 3.78 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 20 starts (128.2 IP) this season. He is 27 years old and will be a free agent this winter, just like Gallardo. Leake has made at least 30 starts the past three seasons and is on pace to do it again in 2015. The Cincinnati Reds have already traded one of their starting pitchers when they sent Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals.

As for Gallardo, he is 7-9 with a 3.19 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 21 starts (121.1 IP). He’s in his first year with the Rangers, who are considering the co-favorites with the Dodgers for Hamels. Gallardo has made at least 30 starts the past six seasons and is used to pitching in the NL after spending his first eight seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The picture will become clearer in the coming days, as the deadline is Friday.

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Vincent Samperio

Vince is currently the Associate Editor and Social Media Manager for Dodgers Nation. Hailing from San Pedro, CA and a student at Cal State Long Beach, Vince has previously written for the Daily 49er and LASF Magazine.

2 Comments

  1. Guerrero for Gallardo, a no brainer, but should try to sign him for three years along with the trade! Then go get Chapman from the Reds, another no brainer! Two moves and Dodgers are much better for them. Shore up starting pitching and the eighth inning for playoff push. Just don’t give up Seager or Urias.

  2. Yawn. Hernandez and Correia were “backup plans” as well – look how they worked out. Sad that this team is reduced to worn out back end starters as their best options at the trade deadline. More important in my mind is a top level closer since it was revealed our closer won’t be able to do any running and properly condition his lower body for the rest of this year following his heel bone surgery. I think Kenley needs a year of 8th inning work before returning to the closer role next season when he can fully condition his body to be that dominant pitcher again. To me, that is the main red-alarm fire to try to put out at the trade deadline right alongside the fact that we currently 2 aces (one of which will certainly opt out at the end of the season), a health ticking time bomb, and 2 minor leaguers in the rotation.

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