MLB trade rumors: Dodgers acquire Yu Darvish from Rangers

The Los Angeles Dodgers have acquired starting pitcher Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have beat the shot clock pulling off a last-second trade to acquire Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers. Darvish is an impending free agent following the conclusion of the season making this trade a pure rental. Darvish, 30, is making $10 million in the last season of his contract. The Rangers who sit in fourth place in the AL West were expected to sell coming into today. Texas has now moved Jonathan Lucroy and Darvish.

Ken Rosenthal of MLB Network was the first to report the news:

Darvish had a rough outing in his last start giving up 10 earned runs in 3.2 innings pitched. The Dodgers desperately needed starting pitching with the injury to Clayton Kershaw. However, Darvish seemed to be having some fun with the deadline as he took a selfie moment before being dealt.

Los Angles adds to what is already the best record in baseball. LA came into today at 74-31 looking like prohibitive favorites to reach the Fall classic. The Dodgers did need starting pitching, however, as they did not have much depth behind Clayton Kershaw. Now the Dodgers can slide Darvish right into the rotation as the number two guy in a postseason series. Alex Wood and Kenta Maeda can fill out the rest of that playoff rotation.

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The Dodgers also made some big bullpen pieces to close out the deadline. Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani will also head to Hollywood. The Dodgers needed to fortify that bullpen as they needed extra arms in front of closer Kenley Jansen. Both Watson and Cingrani are lefties so they can be used in pivotal matchups.

The Dodgers will likely face divisional rival Arizona or Colorado in the first round of the playoffs.