The game between the Dodgers and Diamondbacks was in the 6th inning when word spread that the Diamondbacks and Dodgers had completed a deal that would involve pitcher John Garland. It wasn't the Dodgers only deal of the night.
In their quest to fend off the charging Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants, the Los Angeles Dodgers added a quality starting pitcher and a loud bat in the form of Chicago White Sox player Jim Thome just before the deadline to add players that could be eligible for post season play.
In the Garland deal with Arizona, the Diamondbacks are set to get a Player To Be Named Later. Speculation centers on infielder Tony Abreu, a player with upside remaining and good defensive and hitting tools. Abreu fits the need for quality infield help for the DBacks. If that player is Abreu, he will have to clear waivers. It is doubtful another club would block the deal.
Garland will step in to the Dodgers rotation and face his former Diamondbacks teammates later this week, probably on Thursday. That will have to be a very weird feeling. Garland is from the Los Angeles area and although he said it was difficult to leave his teammates, he relishes the opportunity to pitch in L.A. and possibly play post season baseball. Garland shut out the Astros this past weekend with an assortment of breaking balls and off speed pitches to compliment his decent fastball. Garland has long been a "nibbler" around the plate with a knack of not giving hitters much to hit. He is capable of giving up a big inning, a trend that has improved recently. Garland was 8-11 this year with a 4.29 earned run average. He pitched better than his record.
In the other deal of the evening for the Dodgers, they acquired slugger Jim Thome from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for class A infielder Justin Fuller. Fuller had been at Inland Empire where he was hitting .254 in 56 games over 205 plate appearances. Fuller is versatile and can play short, second and in the outfield. He is six feet, 175 pounds.
Thome had indicated his willingness to come to Los Angeles and do everything he could to help the team down the stretch and into the playoffs. He is slated to be a pinch-hitter, coming off the bench to provide a big batter in crucial situations. He indicated he is not physically able to play first base on any type of regular basis. He was the White Sox Designated Hitter and has always provided outstanding power from the left side of the plate. James Loney remains the Dodgers everyday first baseman. The Dodgers pick up a huge bat off the bench, the White Sox shed salary and everyone is happy.
Should Abreu become the Player To Be Named going to the Diamondbacks, it will provide Arizona the opportunity to have some depth at second base going in to 2010. It may preclude the club from having to go out on the free agent market to find a player close to or equal to Abreu's skill set. Abreu would help add depth at both middle infield positions. Again, it is still just speculation that Abreu is the PTBNL.
The Dodgers are feeling the push of both the Rockies and Giants, and the addition of Garland and Thome may help ward off the party crashers.
The Giants added right handed pitcher Brad Penny to the back of their rotation earlier in the week. Penny had been designated for assignment by the Boston Red Sox. Penny returns to the National League West where he knows the hitters.
There was other important news generated Monday. Some media outlets had reported that the Angels Player To Be Named Later in the deal between the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Tampa Bay Rays might just be either catcher Bobby Wilson or infielder Sean Rodriguez. Either of those players would fit very nicely on the Rays, as they have a need for both in their system. It is difficult to speculate on the reality of the reports, but it had widely been discussed that the PTBNL would, in fact, be Major League Ready. Both Wilson and Rodriguez fit that description. We should learn more soon.