Giving their bullpen a needed boost, the Dodgers have acquired left-handed reliever George Sherrill from the Orioles, a major league source told FanHouse.The Dodgers have been seeking pitching help, especially in relief with Ronald Belisario and Will Ohman on the disabled list. L.A. starters average the second fewest innings per game in the NL. Manager Joe Torre has made 322 pitching changes, third-most in the league, and has asked a reliever to go more than an inning 90 times, by far the most in the NL.
Sherrill, 32, was 20-for-23 in save chances with Baltimore, compiling a 2.40 ERA and .219 average allowed. Over his past 31 appearances, he has a 1.47 ERA with 30 strikeouts and 10 walks in 30 2/3 innings. He is not eligible for free agency until after the 2011 season.
MLB.com reported the Dodgers gave up two minor-leaguers, third baseman Josh Bell and pitcher Steve Johnson. Johnson's father Dave is an Orioles broadcaster who pitched for the team in 1989-91.
Bell, 22, has great raw power but a thick body that some belive may force him to move to first base or the corner outfield. Baltimore, though, liked his feet, hands and arm strength on defense. Bell was hitting .296 with 11 homers, 30 doubles and a .396 on-base percentage in Double-A.
Johnson, who turns 22 on Aug. 31, is considered a smart pitcher who could wind up at the back end of a rotation. He went 8-4 with a 3.82 ERA in Class A before being promoted to Double-A, where he has made two starts (1-1, 1.69 ERA, 15 strikeouts and three walks in 10 2/3 innings).
Los Angeles has lost four straight after not having dropped more than two in a row all year.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dodgers need a quality starter not a relief guy. Man their general manager really blew it this time. If the Dodgers do not make it to the World Series then Colletti will be packing his bags. Let see he paid Jason Schmidt 47 million and I think he has won two games.
Agreed. This was a ridiculous trade. They need a starter so they can take pressure off from Billingsley and Kershaw. They need a true ace of the staff. Now they gave up a great 3B prospect for a reliever that will be overworked and broken down by Torre.
if you are a dodger fan then you should look a little harder at this trade. it is a very simple move. They aquired Sherrill to pitch to the Phillies who bat Utley, Howard and Obanez in a row. it is a move to try and get themselves to the world series.
Don't be surprised to see the Dodgers blow what was once a large lead. No hitting,spoty pitching and no relief. They have been lucky so far, and it is beginning to catch up with them. Manny is not good enough to carry them to the promise land, unless he can get "high".
Pops2hodges, explain to me how a team can be 3rd in majors in overall batting average, 2nd in the NL for runs scored and have "NO Hitting". Might want to do a little research before you make such a blanket statement. The Dodgers are more than just Manny.
Hopefully this takes them out of the Halladay race. The Red Sox would be better for him anyway.
Sucks the O's just give away Sherrill who has been quite solid in the ninth, and for a long while now, for a third base prospect and a pitcher who may never be...
Ugh, no more Bmore fire sales!
The Dodgers have good, starting pitching and good hitting, although they may have been hitting over their heads in the first half of the season. I like this trade as Broxton is erratic. And since Toronto wants Kershaw and another prospect for Halliday, that's a bad deal for L.A. this year and even worse in years to come as Kershaw looks like he may well become the ace of the staff.
The problem for the Dodgers is that if they get to the playoffs, they don't have a great pitcher. However, they do have a lot of good starting pitchers they can throw at the opposition. The Dodgers should stick with what they have and hope Kershaw, Billingsley, Wolf and Kuroda can do the job.
Dodgers get an Orioles reliever...Anyone else remember Don Stanhouse?
That guy destroyed part of my childhood.
Go Angels...
Sherril was a very good relief pitcher in the American League. I guarantee you he will be even better in the much less talented National League. Just look at Sabathia and Holladay for recent examples. Sabathia was fabulous for his short time last year with the Brewers but had a losing record when he came over from Cleveland. Holladay was hitting around .250 for the A's this year but look what he's done since St Louis acquired him (back in the Nat'l League). There are many, many more recent examples if you care to research them. Very good acquisition for the Dodgers! Now if they could only come up with someone to take the catcher's spot from weak hitting and "horrible-in-the-clutch" Martin. Man he sucks! And I wouldn't mind trading Billingsley and a prospect or two (or James Loney or Martin, please!) for the Bluejay's ace Roy Holladay. He would win 22-23 games a year for the next 5 years in the weak National League. But definitely keep Clayton Kershaw. Barring injury, he could possibly be the next Sandy Koufax.
George Sherrill: The quentisential 1950`s-style baseball player`s name. It really does sound old fashioned. However, Sherrill is hardly an elite closer.
zemog44, the key statement in you post is "come up with someone to take the catcher's spot", obviuosly you know very little about baseball if you think that catchers of Russell Martins calibar are sitting out there for the taking. Sure Russell isn't having a great season, but last year he was an all-star. Tne Dodgers would be absolutely crazy to trade Russell Martin. Who would you replace him with? The should not pay the price for Roy Holladay, pitchers are way to fragile. The only way they should even consider picking up Holladay is if they do not have to give up anyone on their big league roster, not Looney, Not Martin and especially not Billingsley. Billingsley is part of the Dodger future he is a young guy still learning, why trade him before he hits his prime, with a little better bullpen support the guy would have 15 wins. Giving up Billingsley would also be a totally crazy move.
Sherrill may not be an "elite" closer, but the trade will benefit both teams. The O's are gearing up with a lot of young, raw talent. They will be able to contend, for a change, in the next few years. The Dodgers are playing for this year and the trade will help them.
Please...it's not THAT simple to trade for a #1 starter, much less one the quality of Halladay, without giving up A LOT. Toronto reportedly wanted Billingsley or Kershaw, in addition to probably 3 other top prospects. Kershaw's one of the hottest pitchers of the last two months. Giving up Billingsley negates some of the function of the addition of Halladay.
Halladay is likely a great short term move, but if he didn't absolutely dominate through any playoffs the effects could reverberate through the next five years. A big price to pay...but who knows?
The trick was to try to get Halladay without giving up either Billingsley or Kershaw, but Toronto hasn't bitten. And don't trade Kemp!
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Any body want to buy what's left of the Pirates? You could probably get a real good deal!
what about the cubs
You people can't seem to see the forest for the trees. Keyword, closer! Could this mean Broxton's days may be numbered in a possible trade for Halladay? Broxton plus some top prospect minor leaguers. Chess people not checkers.