Dodgers Make Late Trade Deadline Moves, Ship Out Relievers to New York

In the final hours of the trade deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers continued to make moves, this time shipping out two relievers to the New York area. The trade was reported by Robert Murray, adding to the Dodgers’ flurry of deadline-day activity.

The Dodgers have been actively acquiring major league talent, bolstering their infield and pitching depth in the process. However, in an unexpected move, they decided to part ways with Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek, two bullpen arms who have experienced ups and downs in recent seasons.

Bickford, who pitched to an impressive 2.50 ERA in the 2021 season, was recently designated for assignment by the franchise. Unfortunately, his performance in the past two years has not been as sharp, leading the Dodgers to make the decision to cut ties with the 28-year-old right-hander.

Kolarek, on the other hand, returned to the Dodgers this season after spending two years with the Oakland Athletics. During his first stint with the Dodgers, Kolarek played a crucial role in helping the franchise secure their first title since 1988. In the 2020 season, the lefty pitcher posted an impressive 0.95 ERA in 20 appearances for the club.

Despite the Dodgers’ efforts to strengthen their roster by acquiring talent from the White Sox, Red Sox, and Guardians, the decision to trade away two bullpen arms has left some fans disappointed. The reigning NL West champions are facing stiff competition within their division, with the Giants, Padres, and Diamondbacks making significant deals during the deadline.

The Dodgers’ lead atop the NL West is far from secure, and they must now regroup and hope to grant their loyal fans at Chavez Ravine another thrilling season of postseason baseball. Although the deadline did not unfold as they may have hoped, the team’s determination and resilience will play a critical role in their pursuit of success in the remainder of the season.