No one has ever accused Andrew Friedman of being content.
The Dodgers have finalized a trade for White Sox right-handed pitchers Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly, the team announced, adding Lynn to a rotation that has been hindered by injuries and facilitating a return to L.A. for Kelly.
The move accompanies the Dodgers' previous acquisition of utility man Kiké Hernandez from the Red Sox as Los Angeles gears up for the home stretch of a race for the NL West.
Lynn and Kelly have both had inflated ERAs for the White Sox this season, but Kelly's ERA in particular outsizes his actual production. The Dodgers bullpen has been uncharacteristically pedestrian, so the addition of Kelly may help it proliferate its innings a bit more. As far as Lynn goes, it's clear the Dodgers are hoping to fix the big right-handed dealer.
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The Dodgers have been noticeably active at a deadline where are a lot of teams are engaged in a staring contest. The White Sox are also shaping up to be major sellers, as Lynn and Kelly join Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, shipped to the Angels earlier this week, and Kendall Graveman, who is headed to the Astros, as part of a Southside exodus.
The Sporting News looks at the details of the trade and what the White Sox will get back for another two arms.
Lance Lynn and Joe Kelly trade details
- Dodgers get: RHP Lance Lynn, RHP Joe Kelly
- White Sox get: OF Trayce Thompson, RHP Nick Nastrini (Double-A), RHP Jordan Leasure (Double-A)
Lynn joins a Dodgers rotation that has battled injury all season. Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, Dustin May, and Ryan Pepiot have all dealt with various ailments, so pitching was always going to be a priority for the Dodgers at the deadline.
For the White Sox, the return is two Double-A pitchers and outfielder Trayce Thompson. Nastrini was ranked ninth in the Dodgers system, per MLB Pipeline, while Leasure wasn't in the top 30. Thompson was hitting .155 for the Dodgers in 36 games this year, with the highlight being a three-home run game to open the season against the Diamondbacks.
It's about the expected return for Lynn and Kelly, a top-10 prospect and a lottery ticket as the focus.
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Lance Lynn contract
Lynn is in the second of a two-year, $38 million deal signed with the White Sox ahead of the 2021 season.
After this season, the Dodgers inherit a club option on his deal that will allow them to keep him in 2024 for $18 million or buy him out for $1 million.
| Year | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $18,500,000 |
| 2023 | $18,500,000 |
| 2024* | $18,000,000 |
* - Club option
Joe Kelly contract
Similar to Lynn, Kelly is on the second of a two-year deal with a club option after the year.
Kelly was signed to two years, $17 million last season, and his club option is $9.5 million or a $1 million buyout.
| Year | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $7,000,000 |
| 2023 | $9,000,000 |
| 2024* | $9,500,000 |
* - Club option
