Dodgers get Mat Latos, Alex Wood in three-team trade, report says

The trade deadline sprint has brought a few new players to the Los Angeles Dodgers and caused them to part with others.

Keeping that in mind, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and Atlanta Braves are in the process of pulling off a massive three-team blockbuster which involves right-hander Mat Latos, first baseman Michael Morse, left-hander Alex Wood, and Cuban infielder Hector Olivera.

The Dodgers also acquired Luis Avilan, a left-handed reliever, who basically fills Paco Rodriguez’s former role with the team. Now thats not to say that the Braves hadn’t been busy, with the 3 team trade involved the Braves, Dodgers, and Marlins being among the more intriguing deals during the entire lead up to the deadline.

As for the Marlins, it was another familiar salary dump. Out of contention in the NL East, Miami rid itself of Matos and first baseman Michael Morse for three minor leaguers.

Latos and Wood will give the Dodgers a chance to win every day, and once they get to the playoffs, they need Kershaw to pitch like Kershaw. It’s a risky move for Braves GM John Hart that shows tremendous faith in his scouting department.

John Hart, Atlanta’s president of baseball operations, said the Braves think Olivera can be a Travis Fryman or Scott Rolen type offensively – a. 270 or. 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.

Does that mean their arduous, complicated and financially expensive deal with the Braves and Marlins is happening for naught?

Victor Araujo, RHP, Dodgers to Marlins: Signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009, 22-year-old Araujo is pitching for Rancho Cucamonga on the High-A California League this year, posting a 5.40 ERA in 50 innings of relief work with a 55/14 K/BB and 50 hits allowed.

FILE – In this June 10, 2014, file photo, Arizona Diamondbacks’ Bronson Arroyo winds up to throw … Outfielders Cameron Maybin and Jonny Gomes could be the next to go. Most figured Jim Johnson would be traded along with other single year contract veterans. Thursday’s trade was different. Wood, a solid left-hander, is just 24 and will slot into the rotation for a while as he is not even arbitration-eligible until 2017.

The trade suggests the Braves love Olivera, whom they had pursued in free agency. “We like the player, we like the bat, we like the makeup”.

In 19 games with the Dodgers’ minor league affiliates, Olivera has hit.348/.392/.478 with one homer and seven RBI. He can play left field and every infield position except shortstop, and the Braves believe he’s best suited for third base. The Dodgers will pay his entire signing bonus of $28 million. He is also now on the DL with a grade 1 hamstring strain. Look out into the market, and it’s tough to find those bats. Getting that type of player for only $6-7 million a year over the next four-plus years would be great, obviously, and maybe he has that kind of potential.

When Miami signed Morse to a two-year contract last off-season, it had high hopes of him protecting Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup.