The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a move to strengthen their pitching staff by acquiring Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly from the Chicago White Sox. In exchange, the Dodgers sent pitching prospects Nick Nastrini and Jordan Leasure, as well as outfielder Trayce Thompson, to the White Sox.
Lynn, a 36-year-old right-hander, brings veteran experience and a history of reliability to the Dodgers’ rotation. Although he has struggled this season with a 6.47 ERA, Lynn has thrown at least 150 innings in a season on eight occasions. He has also pitched into the sixth inning in 14 of his 21 starts for the White Sox. Lynn’s addition will bolster a rotation that has relied heavily on rookies and has seen inconsistent results.
Meanwhile, Kelly returns to the Dodgers’ bullpen for the second time this week, joining Kiké Hernandez as a fan favorite returning to Los Angeles via trade. Since signing with the White Sox as a free agent in 2021, Kelly has not been overly effective, posting a 5.59 ERA and 1.47 WHIP in 74 appearances over the past two seasons. However, Kelly has shown promise this year with 41 strikeouts in just 29 innings and has limited opposing batters to a .228 average.
In addition to Lynn and Kelly, the Dodgers also acquired some much-needed rotation depth. Lynn has a remaining salary of approximately $6.6 million for this season, along with a 2024 option for $18 million or a $1 million buyout. This move could serve as insurance in case pitchers Julio Urias and Clayton Kershaw become free agents this fall.
On the White Sox side of the deal, they receive pitching prospects Nastrini and Leasure, both of whom were part of the Dodgers’ minor league system. Nastrini, a fourth-round pick out of UCLA in 2021, has shown promise despite his control issues in college. With a 4.03 ERA and 85 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings for Double-A Tulsa, Nastrini is highly regarded among the Dodgers’ pitching prospects. Leasure, a 2021 draft pick, has been solid out of the bullpen for Tulsa, notching a 3.09 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 35 innings.
Overall, this trade allows the Dodgers to bolster their pitching staff with Lynn and Kelly, providing both veteran experience and potential bullpen help. The White Sox, on the other hand, acquire promising pitching prospects to potentially strengthen their organization’s depth. It remains to be seen how this trade will impact both teams going forward, but it is certainly a notable move in the world of baseball.
