Dodgers acquire Mat Latos, Michael Morse from Marlins

The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to have found at least one answer in their search for starting pitching, agreeing to acquire right-hander Mat Latos from the Miami Marlins.

Morse, 33, has hit just.214/.277/.314 with four homers in 52 games for the Marlins, but seems to be a weird fit for the Dodgers considering their outfield and first base depth.

The moral of this story: It’s good to be rich. The Dodgers got Latos, owed a little more than $3 million for the rest of the season, because they agreed to take Morse, owed $13.5 million through 2016.

It’s still unclear what the Marlins are getting in return, but the Herald reported three Los Angeles minor leaguers are part of the deal.

The Dodgers won’t be able to offer him a qualifying offer because he was not on their roster at the beginning of the season. Lewis has pitched into the eighth inning in capturing both starts since the All-Star break, allowing two runs over 7.2 innings with a season-high nine strikeouts in Friday’s 4-2 victory at the LA Angels.

Latos does represent an upgrade over the current back of the Dodgers’ rotation.

If Latos has his head on straight and pitches like he did from 2010 to 2013, the Dodgers could ride their rotation deep into October.

Tanaka will be making his first career start against Texas and his “opposite number” is Colby Lewis (10-4, 4.49 ERA). The draft pick will be very valuable to the Marlins. When your team trades away assets for literally nothing. The Dodgers will also receive comp pick #34, the second consecutive season the Marlins threw their comp pick into a trade package. For all we know, though, the Dodgers might just be absorbing Morse from the Marlins in order to keep the Fish from paying for the rest of his deal. I’m not opposed to trading draft picks for actual Major League Baseball players, but using it to shed a contract like with Morse?