The rich get richer.
The reigning World Series champion Dodgers have reportedly added three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer and five-tool shortstop Trea Turner in the largest blockbuster thus far of the 2021 MLB trade deadline season.
The Nationals, winners of the World Series themselves just two years ago, are committing to a reload of young talent as they move on from Scherzer (a free agent after this season) and Turner (a free agent after 2022).
MORE: MLB trade deadline tracker
Max Scherzer, Trea Turner trade details
Dodgers get: RHP Max Scherzer, SS Trea Turner
Nationals get: C Keibert Ruiz, RHP Josiah Gray, OF Donovan Casey, RHP Gerardo Carrillo
Los Angeles makes another big splash with a trade. It added Mookie Betts before last season in the hope the star outfielder would get the team over the hump to win a World Series. It's hoping Scherzer and Turner can do the same this year. The Dodgers are in second in the NL West, three games behind the Giants, and they're three games ahead of the third-place Padres.
Scherzer will fill the void in the rotation that was created when Trevor Bauer was placed on administrative leave by MLB amid sexual assault allegations.
Turner will give the Dodgers another All-Star and another shortstop with Corey Seager, the 2020 World Series MVP. LA now has a logjam on the infield. Turner is on the COVID-19 injured list while Seager is expected to be activated from the IL on Friday, according to MLB Network's Jon Heyman.
The Nationals bring in prospects who should be able to help in the near future. Ruiz debuted in the majors last year and had a cameo with the Dodgers this year. He has been mashing at Triple-A and has long been considered one of the sport's best catching prospects. Gray reached the big leagues this season after he carved up Triple-A batters to a 2.87 ERA, 38.6 percent strikeout rate and 3.5 percent walk rate. The 23-year-old should be almost ready to join a rotation full time.
Casey has hit for power and shown stolen-base ability in the minors, but the 25-year-old does not have as high a pedigree as Ruiz and Gray. He has hit 11 homers and stolen 15 bases at Double-A this season after hitting 23 homers and stealing 22 bases between high Single-A and Double-A in 2019. Carrillo, 22, has been pitching as a starter at Double-A, racking up 10.6 K/9 but also posting a 4.25 ERA.
