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Dodgers to acquire Mat Latos, Michael Morse from Marlins

By Jonathan Bass

May 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Mat Latos (35) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
May 5, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Mat Latos (35) pitches during the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers look to fortify their rotation with veteran righty Matt Latos

Next: Best Starting Pitchers in MLB History

Death, taxes and the Los Angeles Dodgers making a trade deadline splash in order to fortify their roster and make a run at the pennant: the three givens in modern-day America.

On Wednesday reports came from far and wide that the Dodgers had agreed to a deal with the Miami Marlins to acquire starting pitcher Mat Latos and first baseman Michael Morse. In exchange, the Marlins will receive three minor league pitchers from the Dodgers. Also as a part of the trade, LA will pick up the entirety of both Latos and Morse’s salaries, while receiving the No. 34 pick in next year’s draft.

On the season Latos owns a 4.48 ERA, 79 strikeouts and WHIP of 1.25. The ERA is his highest since his rookie year in 2009; however after ballooning to 6.21 at the end of May, Latos has worked to lower it significantly thanks in part to a scorching July (1.80 ERA and 19 strikeouts in three starts). He is expected to join the Dodgers’ rotation as a third starter behind Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke.

Morse will add another veteran presence on the bench (not to mention a body on a club that’s currently pretty dinged up) and will backup Adrian Gonzalez at first. On the season he’s batting .214 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 52 games.

Latos, who was traded to Miami from Cincinnati in the offseason, is slated to become a free agent in 2016, and is the classic catch fire in a bottle late-season flier. Meanwhile, Morse is in the first year of a two-year deal worth $16 million.

As of post the teams have yet to confirm the trade, and while most outlets have received confirmations from sources there is still some intrigue. According to ESPN’s Jim Bowden, one more team could join the fold alongside LA and Miami.

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