The Trade is Done - A Look at the Dodgers Bounty

After many days of grief then worry, the trade with the Padres is finally done.  And with that, the final pieces of an active and hopefully fruitful December have fallen into place.  Unless, of course, the Dodgers new brain trust decide to pull something off between now and the new year.

Per a Dodger press release from last night:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the acquisitions of catcher Yasmani Grandal, right-handed pitcher Joe Wieland and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin from San Diego in exchange for outfielder Matt Kemp, catcher Tim Federowicz and cash considerations.

This announcement was then followed with this Dodger press release this morning:

The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced the acquisition of shortstop Jimmy Rollins and cash considerations from Philadelphia in exchange for left-handed pitcher Tom Windle and right-handed pitcher Zach Eflin, who was acquired yesterday from San Diego.

Whew!  As you likely know, a little kink formed in the Padres trade that appeared to have the makings of a deal-killer.  It had been reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today that arthritis was found in both hips of Matt Kemp.  Soon, rumors were bandied about and screams were heard from all corners.

Did the Padres leak private data illegally?  Are Dodger fans really so loyal to Kemp that they would want him back on the team should the trade fall through.  After all, he can't at all be happy with the Dodger brass.  Do the Padres have buyers remorse and are they looking for a way to scuttle it.  More realistically, is this just posturing on the part of the Padres.  Are they so crass as to be willing to embarrass their own new player (Kemp) in hopes of getting some more cash? 

Per ESPN LA:

The deal was completed despite some possible lingering ill will between the Dodgers' front office and Preller because of the belief that Kemp's physical results were leaked to help San Diego pry further concessions out of its NL West foes, sources told ESPN.com's Ramona Shelburne. The Padres did ask for additional compensation from the Dodgers after Kemp's physical, but Los Angeles refused.

Yup, it was all just a negotiating ploy, and the Padres were willing to use a player they had desperately wanted as a pinata.  Good job, guys!  I'm sure Kemp appreciates what you've done.

Anyway, now that the dust has settled I figured I'd provide a quick and easy rundown of the bounty the Dodgers received and exchanged.  Check out a listing below (along with links to 'Welcome' post I made, if available):

• Jimmy Rollins, SS (1yr remaining in contract) -- Welcome Blog Post on Rollins
• Howie Kendrick, 2B (1yr remaining in contract) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hendrick
• Yasmani Grandal, C (Arb Eligible: 2016, Free Agent: 2019) -- Welcome Blog Post on Grandal
• Chris Hatcher, RP (Arb Eligible: 2017, Free Agent: 2020) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hatcher
• Kike Hernandez, Infield Prospect-Utility Player (Arb Eligible: 2018, Free Agent: 2021) -- Welcome Blog Post on Hernandez
• Austin Barnes, Infield/Catching Prospect with no Major League time yet -- Welcome Blog Post on Barnes
• Joe Wieland, SP Prospect (Arb Eligible: 2016, Free Agent: 2019) -- Welcome Blog Post on Wieland
• UPDATE: Apparently, the Dodgers are receiving $1Mil from Phillies in Rollins trade, per Todd Zolecki on twitter

In exchange for (not including players acquired, but immediately used for a subsequent trade):

• Matt Kemp, OF (5yrs remaning in contract) - to Padres
• Dee Gordon, SS (Arb Eligible: 2015, Free Agent: 2019) - to Marlins
• Dan Haren, SP (1yr remaining in contract) - to Marlins
• Miguel Rojas, Utility Infielder (Arb Eligible: 2018, Free Agent: 2021) - to Marlins
• Tim Federowicz, C (Arb Eligible: 2017, Free Agent: 2020) - to Padres
• Tom Windle, SP Prospect with no Major League time yet - to Phillies
• +Cash of roughly $42Mil ($32Mil for the Kemp Contract and $10Mil for the Haren contract)

BTW, the players we received, but immediately shipped out were:

• Andrew Heaney, SP Prospect from Miami with no Major League Time and ranked the second best LHP prospect in all on Baseball - to Angels
• Zach Eflin, SP Prospect from San Diego with no Major League Time.  He was drafted 33rd overall in 2012 Draft - to Phillies

And we did make two free agent signings:

• Brandon McCarthy, SP at 4-yrs for $48Mil -- Welcome Blog Post on McCarthy
• Brett Anderson, SP at  1-yr for $10Mil + $4Mil in incentives -- Welcome Blog Post on Anderson

That's a lot of movement for the Dodgers.  Heck, it's the busiest December in years.  No doubt the new Dodger front office has put their stamp on the team, and for better or worse we've got something new and different to watch come Spring.

On a side note, hasn't the activity we've been seeing throughout the league been weird.  It's as if all of these genius GM's decided to treat their teams like Baseball cards - trading players willy-nilly like they're children enjoying recess.  Strange!

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