2015 Trade Deadline: Impact Of Mat Latos For Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers decided that the price for Cole Hamels was too steep, so they went for plan B: The Marlins’ Mat Latos. Latos is 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 16 starts. Before Latos went on the disabled list with a knee injury in May, his ERA stood at 6.12. He has only given up 15 earned runs in 45.2 innings since his return.

The reported trade looks like this:

The Dodgers will pick up the rest of the contracts for Latos and Morse. Morse is a curious fit for the Dodgers, who are set at fist base with Adrian Gonzalez, and who have a crowded outfield to begin with. Morse has struggled this year with .214 average, four homers, and 12RBI in 159 at bats. There is a chance that he could be on the move again before Friday. If not, his fantasy value goes from minimal to none.

Latos is a career 16-8 with a 3.30 ERA in 37 career starts against his new division foes. That could be a huge lift for the Dodgers down the stretch when they need to beat division foes. Of particular importance is his 2.17 career ERA against the Giants.

Latos should be owned in all fantasy leagues again by now anyway considering the way he has pitched in the month of July. There is reason to believe that his numbers will only get better. If you are in a league in which Latos is available, pick him up immediately. If you can get him for a decent price, I would pull the trigger. His career 3.43 ERA is not an accident. There is a great chance that he returns to that form.

Of course, Latos’s win total should increase dramatically with the Dodgers. Couple that with the way he is pitching lately, and you have a great buy low candidate if you can pull it off.

The Dodgers didn’t even have to give up a top 100 prospect to land Latos. The important part for the Marlins was freeing themselves of his and Morse’s contracts. The Dodgers aren’t concerned with the money. They are concerned with what Latos can do for them.

Jeff Brigham was the fourth round pick for the Dodgers in last year’s draft. He is 6-5 with a 5.52 ERA in class A ball this year. He was 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in the Midwest League, but has struggled at high-A. Brigham is the 28th ranked Dodger prospect, and is the only one in the top 30 in the organization.

Victor Araujo was 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA out of the bullpen at high-A Rancho Cucamonga. He projects as a late inning guy, but has had some problems harnessing his stuff. At age 22, he still has time to develop, and the Marlins can be patient with him.

Kevin Guzman is a raw prospect. At just 20 years old, he is 5-7 with a 3.90 ERA in the Midwest League this year. All three of the Marlins pieces are raw talents that may or may not develop. None will be a fantasy asset within the next couple of years. Still, the Marlins will count this trade as a win, and so will the Dodgers. And if you are one of the people that bought low on Latos, so will you!

Stay tuned to Fantasy CPR for the fantasy impact of all of the deadline deals!

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