No big swing from Dodgers on deadline day, as LA trades for Royals pitcher

Although the Dodgers made offers for high-profile pitchers such as Justin Verlander and Eduardo Rodriguez before the deadline, they will still get help from Yarbrough, who has a 3.08 ERA in 38 innings and seven starts as a starter for Kansas City this season. Of course, that’s also accompanied by a 7.62 ERA in 13 innings as a reliever, but Yarbrough has looked very sharp since being placed in Kansas City’s rotation in April.

Performance on the field has been a secondary story in Yarbrough’s 2023 season, as the left-hander suffered multiple facial fractures after being hit by a pitch from Ryan Noda on May 7. The injuries caused Yarbrough to go on the 60-day DL, but fortunately he returned in good health and has been in fine form on the mound, with a 2.19 ERA in 24 2/3 innings since being activated from the injured list.

Yarbrough’s secondary metrics are the definition of a mixed bag. On the one hand, his 86.9% fastball velocity, fastball spin rate and 13.7% strikeouts rate are near league lows. However, his 3.8% walk rate is among the league’s elite and he has done an excellent job of inducing soft contact. His 4.24 ERA is much lower than his 4.97 SIERA, which perhaps better reflects this curious set of Statcast numbers and the shift from relief pitching to starting pitching.

The Dodgers have long had a special knack for helping pitchers find a new level of performance or helping them revive their careers, so there’s plenty of promise for Yarbrough in this change of scenery. The lefty is likely to get a few more starts in an L.A. rotation that includes another new face, Lance Lynn, and the Dodgers now technically have seven healthy options to start: Lynn, Yarbrough, Tony Gonsolin, Julio Urias and rookies Bobby Miller, Emmet Sheehan and Michael Grove.

At least two of the youngsters will be moved to Triple-A or the bullpen after the deadline, and once Clayton Kershaw returns from the 15-day injured list. Yarbrough could also work as a reliever or in a swingman role as the situation demands. He’s quite familiar with that type of role, both with the Royals this season and in his previous stint as a starter, reliever, opener and volume pitcher with the Rays from 2018 to 2012.

It’s a rental move for Los Angeles, as Yarbrough is a free agent after the season. He’s still owed about $1.1 million as the remainder of his $3 million salary for the 2023 season, putting a little more money on the books for a Dodgers team that’s already well above the first luxury tax level ($233 million). With much still to be resolved after the deadline, Roster Resource projects the Dodgers just under the second tier of $253 million, and staying under that threshold would at least mean a slightly smaller financial penalty for the Dodgers as they pay the tax for the third straight season.

With a one-year contract, Yarbrough was seen as a possible bargaining chip from the moment he signed with the Royals, and Kansas City’s disastrous season only made a deal even more likely. The latest of Kansas City’s many trades brings two more prospects, including infielder Mann, ranked by both Baseball America (24th) and MLB Pipeline (29th) among the top 30 prospects in the Los Angeles farm system.

Mann was a fifth-round pick for the Dodgers in 2018 and could be ready to be seen in the majors after hitting .307/.402/.541 with 14 homers in 386 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this season. While the hitter-friendly nature of the Pacific Coast League gives Mann’s numbers a bit more pause, the 26-year-old has hit very well throughout his minor league career. “Mann is a complete player who does a little bit of everything,” according to Baseball America’s evaluation report, and his “bat and defensive versatility give him a chance to build a career as a left-handed hitting backup.” Mann has played all four infield positions and left field this season, and has played the other two outfield positions in recent years.

Figueroa, 19, was signed internationally by L.A. in 2021 and batted 23.7%, 37.2% and 37.6% in 113 PA at the rookie level this season. Though still early in his professional career, Figueroa has at least shown a knack for getting on base, even if his overall hitting ability needs a bit of polishing. Like Mann, Figueroa is a multi-position player – he played first base and both corner outfield spots this season, and played every other infield position in his first two seasons.