MLB Trade Grades: Dodgers land Amed Rosario from Guardians

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Guardians have agreed to a trade centered around infielder Amed Rosario. 

One day after trading for a familiar face in Kiké Hernandez, the Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t done. Now, they have some serious help for the middle of the infield, courtesy of the Cleveland Guardians.

As first reported of the deal being worked on by ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers, the Guardians are sending shortstop Amed Rosario to the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have long been in the market to upgrade the middle of the infield this season and they have undoubtedly done so with Rosario, a player who went to Cleveland as one of the pieces in the Francisco Lindor trade with the New York Mets.

Amed Rosario trade details: Dodgers acquire IF from Guardians

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the trade being agreed upon by both teams, pending medicals.

Pat Ragazzo of SI’s Fan Nation reports that the Guardians are receiving veteran pitcher Noah Syndergaard in the trade.

Dodgers Trade Grade: Landing Amed Rosario answers huge need

The need for middle infield help has been dire for the Dodgers, hence why they were instantly connected to White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson for some time. Alas, they looked elsewhere in the AL Central and ended up with Rosario.

For as potent as the LA lineup is, they’ve struggled to get consistent work at the plate from Miguel Vargas, Miguel Rojas and even veteran Chris Taylor, all of whom are hitting .221 or worse on the season. That’s a problem when trying to keep things turning for the likes of Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and so on.

Rosario is an instant on-base upgrade, hitting .264 on the season with 19 doubles, six triples and a bonus of three home runs. Adding him with that type of production — he also led the American League in triples last season — to this loaded lineup is a definite win.

Yes, the defense for the shortstop and the overall lack of power (and RBI production) is a slight concern. But it’s a decisive upgrade for LA.

Dodgers Grade: A-

Guardians Trade Grade

Rosario, in the final year of his contract, was obviously a movable piece for Cleveland. And as a rental at shortstop who is a fine bat for a good team like the Dodgers to use to upgrade the lineup, it makes sense why they would want to deal him and that LA wouldn’t be sending any of their most valuable assets to do it.

But did a team that’s still alive to make the playoffs as division winners just trade a viable starting middle-infielder for a pitcher in Noah Syndergaard who has almost been unusable on the mound in Los Angeles this season? They did, indeed.

Again, getting something for Rosario was probably in the best interest of the Guardians’ long-term plans. But unless more details emerge, this feels like they really missed the mark. They often say that it’s better than losing him for nothing in the offseason, but they actively made a possible playoff team worse with this trade.

Guardians Grade: D