A simple-looking trade between the Dodgers and Marlins involving right-hander Mat Latos and slugger Michael Morse, which was said to be completed Wednesday morning, instead was put on hold. A third team, the Braves, became involved and the final three-way deal still was being assembled as of Wednesday night.
Here's what is being reported by CBS Sports Baseball Insider Jon Heyman and others:
Dodgers would receive: Latos and Morse from the Marlins, plus pitchers Alex Wood, Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan, along with infield prospect Jose Peraza from the Braves.
Braves would receive: Infield prospect Hector Olivera, minor-league pitcher Zachary Bird, and major-league lefty Paco Rodriguez. They also get a competitive balance draft pick from the Marlins.
Marlins would receive: Three minor-league pitchers from the Dodgers -- right-handers Jeff Brigham, Victor Araujo and Kevin Guzman.
But with so many pieces involved, it's not a surprise to read this:
Latos has had a sense of humor about the false start and delay:
As does Latos's wife:
Latos would fill a spot in the Dodgers rotation immediately. Johnson would improve the right-handed side of the bullpen. It has been speculated that some of the players the Dodgers would receive from the Braves could be used in another trade or trades before the deadline. Olivera, a Cuban expatriate who signed a $65-million deal in the offseason that included a $28-million signing bonus that already has been paid, could represent a big upgrade for the Braves over Peraza. Olivera is nursing an injury at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Heyman says the Braves were interested in Olivera before he signed with LA:
Eric Stephen of True Blue LA offers a bit of analysis on the possible deal:
None of the four minor leaguers given up by the Dodgers are too highly ranked (more on them later), so the Dodgers essentially paid $45 million to acquire two starting pitchers, two relievers, including one of each they can keep well beyond 2015, plus an infield prospect in Peraza who was ranked the 26th-best prospect in baseball at midseason by Baseball America.
Come sometime Thursday, we should have more definite information.