Dodgers set to obtain Scherzer and Turner from Washington
SAN FRANCISCO >> Go big. Or risk going home.
Andrew Friedman is ready to make his biggest deadline deal yet, his Dodgers trailing in their division at the trade deadline for only the second time in nine years — and in danger of finding themselves in a one-game wild-card playoff game with the San Diego Padres (who have beaten them seven times in the first 10 meetings this season).
The Dodgers are set to acquire both right-hander Max Scherzer and shortstop Trea Turner from the Washington Nationals in exchange for a package of prospects who would include right-hander Josiah
Gray, catcher Keibert Ruiz, righthander Gerardo Carrillo and Double-A outfielder Donovan Casey. Gray and Ruiz are both Top 100-ranked prospects with Ruiz rising in the rankings based on his season at Triple-A this year. The deal is not official yet, pending the exchange of medical reports.
The Dodgers already completed one trade Thursday, acquiring lefthander Danny Duffy and cash considerations from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a player to be named later. Duffy is currently on the injured list for the second time this season with a flexor strain in his pitching arm.
But the double dip of Scherzer and Turner would signal the Dodgers’ willingness to go all-in to reclaim the National League West — and defend last year’s World Series championship — after losing five of seven head-to-head meetings with the first-place San Francisco Giants in the past 11 days and slipping three games back in the division race.
Moreover, the Dodgers appear to have snatched Scherzer away from
Turner
the Dodgers.
Scherzer would become the fourth former Cy Young Award winner to pitch for the Dodgers this season, joining David Price, Clayton Kershaw (on the IL but expected back in 10 days) and Trevor Bauer (currently on administrative leave while sexual assault allegations made against him are investigated). No MLB team has ever had more than three former Cy Young Award winners pitch for them in the same season.
The 37-year-old Scherzer won the award three times — in the American
League with the Detroit Tigers (2013) and twice in the National League with the Nationals (2016 and 2017). He would immediately move to the front of a Dodgers’ starting rotation that would go from depleted to imposing with Walker Buehler, Kershaw and Julio Urias.
This season, Scherzer is 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP in 19 starts for the Nationals, including a victory over the Phillies on Thursday during which he allowed just one run on three hits over six innings. It was Scherzer’s first start in 11 days since he was scratched from a start with triceps discomfort.
“I’m human, so I get it. I understand what’s going on. It is what it is,” Scherzer said after the game of the trade rumors swirling. “I’ve never been in this situation in my career, going through all the hoopla right now. Today was just a chance to get challenged and have to block all that out, and go out there and just compete and try to find a way to win.”
A free agent after this season, Scherzer had the right to veto any trade but has reportedly approved a deal to the Dodgers.
The Dodgers’ move to add a frontline starting pitcher was not surprising and they had been pursuing
Scherzer or Minnesota Twins righthander Jose Berrios for some time.
The inclusion of Turner in the deal, however, was an aggressive get by Friedman.
Turner’s arrival casts a deep shadow over Corey Seager’s future with the Dodgers. While Seager is headed toward free agency this winter, Turner will be in his final year of arbitration eligibility and cannot become a free agent until after the 2022 season, giving the Dodgers a fallback position if Seager leaves — and time to negotiate an extension with Turner. The Nationals had approached Turner about an extension but were unable to reach an agreement.
Seager has been out since May 15 with a broken bone in his right hand, but he is expected to come off the IL and rejoin the Dodgers’ roster this weekend. Turner played some second base and center field for the Nationals early in his career and could move to second base as long as Seager is with the Dodgers. Regardless, the 28-year-old Turner gives the Dodgers another dynamic offensive force to pair with Mookie Betts at the top of their lineup. Turner is second in the NL with a .322 batting average and is third with 21 stolen bases (in 24 attempts).