Monday, July 29, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
On Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded for Tommy Edman from the Saint Louis Cardinals and Michael Kopech for the Chicago White Sox for Miguel Vargas, Alexander Albertus, and Jeral Perez.
The Dodgers didn’t have a place for Miguel Vargas. In the 2023 season, they gave Vargas an opportunity to be their everyday second baseman, but due to his multiple hand injuries, he failed. This season, he has been up and down between Los Angeles and Oklahoma City. He has played left field and showed he is no left fielder. He has a .239 batting average with three home runs and 9 RBI. The Dodgers don’t have any room for Vargas.
If the Dodgers were healthy, they wouldn’t need Tommy Edman, a utility fielder. However, the Dodgers aren’t healthy. They don’t know when or if Max Muncy and/or Miguel Rojas will return. Also, the Dodgers don’t have a center fielder. Edman can play third base, shortstop, and center field. He hasn’t played much this year as he returns from wrist surgery. In 2023, Edman hit .239 with 13 home runs and 47 RBI.
Pitching for a last-place team is difficult for a high-leverage reliever. Michael Kopech pitched from the White Sox who already have 81 losses. He has 9 saves and a 4.74 ERA. He will do better in a Dodger uniform with Mark Prior advising him. The Dodger bullpen is exhausted and will benefit from Kopech in the bullpen.
This trade isn’t spectacular, but it will help the Dodgers. Andrew Friedman still is working on getting players to improve the Dodgers.
