Matt Chapman isn’t involved, as most Dodgers fans would have hoped, but the organization and the A’s completed an intriguing four-player exchange on Friday.
The deal sends infielder Sheldon Neuse and right-handed Gus Varland to Los Angeles, while left-handed Adam Kolarek and outfielder Cody Thomas are on their way to Oakland.
Los Angeles also sent righthanded Dylan Floro, who played in 104 games for the Dodgers in the past three seasons, to the Miami Marlins ahead of lefthanded pitcher Alex Vesia and Minor League righthanded Kyle Hurt.
Breakdown of the trade
Dodgers get: INF Sheldon Neuse, RHP Gus Varland
Get A’s: LHP Adam Kolarek, OR Cody Thomas
Dodgers get: LHP Alex Vesia, RHP Kyle Hurt
Getting Marlins: RHP Dylan Floro
Neuse, 26, was a second-round pick by the Nationals in 2016 after a strong collegiate career with Oklahoma. He was one of the key pieces in the deal that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington in 2017. Since then, Neuse has developed further in the Minors, including a 27-homerer season with Triple-A Vegas in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League in 2019.
According to MLB Pipeline, Neuse was the # 5 overall prospect in the A organization, and his prowess on the record is a big reason why. Varland was the number 28 prospect in the A organization.
Because of Chapman’s presence at third base, Neuse has not had many opportunities to make an impact at the big league-level. He made his Major League-debut in 2019, hitting .250 with seven RBI’s in 56 at bats. Last season he got no playing time and spent his time at the alternative training location of the A. Neuse still has two option years.
Adding Neuse doesn’t close the door to a Justin Turner reunion or the chase of another right-handed bat. Neuse gives the Dodgers a much-needed depth on the position and a player capable of filling in nicely in multiple positions, including second base and left field. Zach McKinstry and Chris Taylor are expected to fill in for the departed Enrique Hernández in the role of utility man. Neuse gives them another option.
In the seemingly unlikely event that the Dodgers didn’t add another third baseman to the roster, Los Angeles would give Edwin Ríos most of the playing time, with Neuse serving as a good righthanded platoon option for the position. However, the club probably isn’t done adding this off season just yet.
Varland, 24, is 2-2 with a 1.54 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 18 Minor League games. He gives the Dodgers another deep dive into the Minors.
Vesia, 24, played five games for Miami in 2020, giving up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings and striking out five, and Hurt, 22, was the Marlins’ fifth round in the University’s 2020 MLB Draft of Southern California. .
Trading Kolarek and Thomas was not an easy decision for the Dodgers, but it is representative of what the organization thinks of Neuse. Kolarek, 32, went 3-0 last season with a 0.95 ERA in 20 appearances with Los Angeles. He went 5-0 with an 0.88 ERA in his Dodgers career. Kolarek was particularly excellent against lefthanded hitters, holding them at an average of .077 last season. He will always be remembered for his post-season duels against superstar Juan Soto. Neuse will replace Kolarek on the 40-man roster.
With Kolarek no longer on the roster, the Dodgers will rely on Victor González, Scott Alexander and Garrett Cleavinger as the best left-handed relievers this season.