The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly were active ahead of the 2024 Major League Baseball trade deadline and made a flurry of moves.
Los Angeles is one of the top contenders to win the World Series this season and it cemented the fact even further this summer ahead of the trade deadline. The Dodgers needed some help in the bullpen and certainly got some by acquiring fireballer Michael Kopech in a deal with the Chicago White Sox.
Kopech has been so good for the Dodgers that he was called the seventh-best trade deadline addition by MLB.com's Brian Murphy.
"There are a handful of relievers we could have chosen for this list," Murphy said. "A.J. Puk has been nails for the (Arizona Diamondbacks). Lucas Erceg began his (Kansas City Royals) career with 12 1/3 scoreless innings. The (San Diego Padres) have three possibilities: Jason Adam, Bryan Hoeing, and Tanner Scott. But we'll stay in L.A. and move from the rotation to the 'pen, where Kopech has been unbelievable in Dodger blue.
"The 28-year-old has struck out 19 of the 45 batters he has faced while permitting one run on three hits over 13 1/3 innings. His opponents' OPS is a minuscule .231. But the most important number for Kopech is 6.7%. That is his walk rate with the Dodgers. It's a massive improvement for a pitcher who produced a 13.3% walk rate from the beginning of 2022 through July 30, a span of 293 1/3 frames."
Kopech has been everything the Dodgers could've possibly hoped for. He has appeared in 14 games so far this season with the Dodgers and has a minuscule 0.63 ERA and a 20-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Los Angeles certainly made the right move by brining him in this summer.
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