Dodgers bolster pitching in huge deal with Braves, Marlins

The Marlins continued their summer sell-off on Thursday, completing a 13-player deal with the Braves and Dodgers that saw them send Mat Latos and Michael Morse to Los Angeles.

After much of the particulars of this potential deal were speculated over the course of Wednesday evening, the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Miami Marlins have finalized the details of the trade.

The Atlanta Braves will send one of their best young pitchers in Alex Wood along with arguably their best relievers in Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan.

This deal works extremely well for the Dodgers, who essentially used their financial swing in order to buy out Morse’s deal and add Latos for next to nothing, while also flipping a surplus piece in Olivera – albeit an expensive one – to land two quality starters, a pair of capable set-up men for the bullpen, and a solid middle infield prospect in Peraza. Latos, a proven starter, gives them a mid- to back-end option behind aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw, and is expected to be joined by a top pitcher ( David Price, possibly) before Friday’s trade deadline. Rodriguez, who’s pitched well for Los Angeles out of the bullpen at the major-league level, appears to be expendable with the Dodgers plethora of LHP relievers.

The Dodgers signed Olivera to a six-year, $62.5 million contract in March, including a $28 million signing bonus.

On the Michael Morse side, he has slashed.214/.277/.592 with four home runs and 12 RBI’s in 52 games the season.

The Marlins shed payroll in a lost season, plus pick up a few minor league arms.

Latos (left) and Morse are the newset members of the Dodgers.

“We really tried to sign the guy, and the Dodgers came in and blew us out of the water financially”, Braves general manager John Hart said.

We haven’t even gotten into Peraza, the top second base prospect also in the Dodgers organization now, or addressed the various possibilities of flips, further deals, etc as the deadline inches closer. The Braves will retain the remainder of Olivera’s salary. But the rest of it – $32.5 million for 2016-20 – now belongs to the Atlanta Braves.

Mike Morse, Brandon Beachy, Chris Heisey and Chin-hui Tsao were all designated for assignment, and relief pitcher Chris Hatcher was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

In 19 minor league games this season, Olivera is hitting.

“Before game time, we made sure Latos and Morse were suited up”, Jennings said. And then Friday, the Marlins traded right-hander Dan Haren (7-7, 3.42, team-high 21 starts) to the Chicago Cubs for two more minor leaguers, shortstop Elliot Soto and pitcher Ivan Pineyro. He gets where we are right now.

After a disappointing 2014 season, Johnson has since recovered posting a 2.25 ERA, 6.2K/9, and 60.8 percent ground-ball rate for the current year – all on a team friendly $1.6MM contract. “He’s affordable for us, and we feel like this is going to give us the opportunity to do more things to build the club”. After a 1-0 loss to first-place Washington on Thursday, Miami dropped to 13 games behind the Nationals.