This story was originally published by Dead Spin
The Los Angeles Dodgers made their final splash minutes before the MLB trade deadline arrived Tuesday, acquiring ace right-hander Jack Flaherty from the Detroit Tigers and outfielder Kevin Kiermaier from the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Dodgers sent two prospects to the Tigers — catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Trey Sweeney — and shipped veteran left-hander Ryan Yarbrough to the Jays in a one-for-one deal.
Los Angeles added Flaherty and Kiermaier to their trade deadline haul that already included right-handed pitcher Michael Kopech and infielder/outfielders Amed Rosario and Tommy Edman.
Flaherty, 28, provides necessary relief to a Los Angeles starting rotation marred by injuries. Flaherty is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA through 18 starts this year, throwing 133 strikeouts with just 19 walks in 106 2/3 innings.
It’s the second straight year that Flaherty has been moved at the deadline. The St. Louis Cardinals shipped him to the contending Baltimore Orioles last summer. He signed a one-year, $14 million contract with Detroit in December.
Kiermaier, 34, was in his second season with the Blue Jays following a 10-year run with the Tampa Bay Rays. He is batting just .195 through 81 games this season with four home runs and 18 RBIs.
The four-time Gold Glove award winner is a career .246 batter with 94 homers, 370 RBIs and 131 stolen bases in 1,124 games.
Yarbrough, 32, is 4-2 with one save, a 3.74 ERA, 25 walks and 39 strikeouts in 67 1/3 innings over 32 relief appearances for the Dodgers this season. In parts of seven seasons with the Rays (2018-22), Kansas City Royals (2023) and Dodgers (2023-24), Yarbrough is 52-40 with three saves and a 4.30 ERA in 184 games (68 starts).
Liranzo, 21, was the No. 8 prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system according to MLB Pipeline. He was batting .220 with seven homers and 30 RBIs at High-A Great Lakes.
Sweeney, 24, a former first-round draft pick by the New York Yankees, is batting .254 with 13 homers and 62 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma City this season.
–Field Level Media
