It doesn’t involve Matt Chapman, as most Dodger fans expected it to happen, but the organization and the A’s completed an intriguing four-player switch on Friday.
The deal sends inmate Sheldon Neuse and right-hander Gus Varland to Los Angeles, while southpaw Adam Kolarek and outfielder Cody Thomas head to Oakland.
Los Angeles also sent right-handed Dylan Floro, who has played 104 games for the Dodgers over the past three seasons, to the Miami Marlins in place of left-handed pitcher Alex Vesia and right-handed Kyle Hurt of the Minor League.
Business analysis
Dodgers get: INF Sheldon Neuse, RHP Gus Varland
A’s get: LHP Adam Kolarek, DE Cody Thomas
Dodgers get: LHP Alex Vesia, RHP Kyle Hurt
Marlins get: RHP Dylan Floro
Neuse, 26, was chosen for the second round by the Nationals in 2016, after a strong university career in Oklahoma. He was one of the key players in the business that sent Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson to Washington in 2017. Since then, Neuse has continued to develop in Minors, including a season of 27 home runs with Triple-A Vegas in the friendly hitter Pacific Coast League in 2019.
According to the MLB Pipeline, Neuse was fifth overall in the organization of A’s, and his skill in the dish is a big reason. Varland was a potential number 28 in the A’s organization.
Because of Chapman’s presence at third base, Neuse didn’t have many opportunities to impact the level of the major leagues. He made his Major League debut in 2019, reaching 0.250 with seven RBIs in 56 on the bat. He had no playing time last season, spending his time at the A’s alternative training facility. Neuse still has two years left.
Adding Neuse does not close the door for a reunion with Justin Turner or the chase of another right-handed bat. Neuse gives the Dodgers a much-needed depth piece in position and a player who is able to fill well in several positions, including second base and left field. Zach McKinstry and Chris Taylor are expected to take the place of the late Enrique Hernández as a public service man. Neuse gives them another option.
In the seemingly unlikely event that the Dodgers did not add another third baseman to the squad, Los Angeles would give most of the playing time to Edwin Ríos, with Neuse serving as a good right-handed option in position. The club, however, probably did not finish adding this off season.
Varland, 24, is 2-2 with an ERA of 1.54 and 77 eliminations in 18 minor league games in his career. He gives the Dodgers another piece of depth in the Minors.
Vesia, 24, made five appearances for Miami in 2020, allowing nine runs in 4 1/3 innings while eliminating five, and Hurt, 22, was the selection of the Marlins in the fifth round in the 2020 MLB Draft at the University of Southern California.
Changing Kolarek and Thomas was not an easy decision for the Dodgers, but it does represent what the organization thinks of Neuse. Kolarek, 32, made it 3-0 with an ERA of 0.95 in 20 games for Los Angeles last season. He went 5-0 with an ERA of 0.88 in his career at the Dodgers. Kolarek was particularly excellent against left-handed hitters, keeping them averaging 0.077 last season. He will always be remembered for his duels against star Juan Soto in the postseason. Neuse will replace Kolarek on the list of 40 men.
With Kolarek no longer on the list, the Dodgers will count on Victor González, Scott Alexander and Garrett Cleavinger to be the best left-handed relievers this season.