It doesn’t involve Matt Chapman, as most Dodgers fans had hoped, but the organization and A completed an interesting four-player deal on Friday.
The deal sends defender Sheldon Neuse to Los Angeles and right-hander Gus Varland to the right, while left-hander Adam Kolarek and midfielder Cody Thomas head to Oakland.
Los Angeles also sent right-handed Dylan Floro, who has appeared in 104 games for the Dodgers in the past three seasons, to the Miami Marlins for left-back Alex Vesia and right-hander Kyle Hurt.
Trade breakdown
Dodgers receive: INF Sheldon Neuse, RHP Gus Varland
Obtain: LHP Adam Kolarek, OF Cody Thomas
Dodgers receive: LHP Alex Vesia, RHP Kyle Hurt
Marlins get: RHP Dylan Flower
Neuse, 26, was a second-round pick in 2016 after a strong college career in Oklahoma. He was one of the key players in the deal that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington in 2017. Since then, Neuse has continued to grow into a minor, including a 27-season homer with Triple-A Vegas in hitter- friendly Pacific Coast League in 2019.
According to MLB Pipeline, Neuse was the general perspective no. 5 in A’s organization, and his ability to plate is an important reason why. Varland was perspective no. 28 in organization A.
Due to Chapman’s presence at third base, Neuse did not have many opportunities to make an impact in the big league. He made his Major League debut in 2019, hitting .250 with seven RBIs in 56 bats. He didn’t have time to play last season, spending his time on A. Neuse’s alternative training ground, he has two more years to choose from.
The addition of Neuse does not close the door to a meeting with Justin Turner or the pursuit of another right-wing bat. Neuse gives the Dodgers a much-needed piece of depth in position and a player who is able to handle nicely in several positions, including second base and left field. Zach McKinstry and Chris Taylor are expected to take on Enrique Hernández as a utility man. Neuse gives them another option.
In the unlikely event that the Dodgers didn’t add another third baseman to the roster, Los Angeles would give most of the playing time to Edwin Ríos, with Neuse serving as a good right-handed platoon option. However, the club probably did not end up adding this off-season.
Varland, 24, is 2-2 with 1.54 ERA and 77 hits in 18 minor league games. He gives the Dodgers another piece of depth in Minors.
Vesia, 24, made five appearances in Miami in 2020, allowing nine runs in four 1/3 innings while eliminating five, and Hurt, 22, was the fifth-round pick. of Marlins in the 2020 MLB Draft at the University of Southern California.
Trading Kolarek and Thomas was not an easy decision for the Dodgers, but it is representative of what the organization believes about Neuse. Kolarek, 32, won 3-0 with 0.95 ERA in 20 appearances with Los Angeles last season. He went 5-0 with 0.88 ERA in Dodgers’ career. Kolarek was particularly excellent against left-handed hitters, keeping them at an average of .077 last season. In the postseason he will always be remembered for his duels against superstar Juan Soto. Neuse will replace Kolarek on the 40-man roster.
Since Kolarek is no longer on the list, the Dodgers will rely on Victor González, Scott Alexander and Garrett Cleavinger to be the most relevant left-handers this season.