Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
The NL West made some noise on Wednesday ahead of the MLB Trade Deadline, as Ian Kennedy was dealt from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the San Diego Padres.
The only thing Los Angeles Dodgers fans need to know about this trade is that it makes the second-place Diamondbacks better. With Tuesday night’s win over the Yankees and an Arizona loss, the Dodgers pulled 3.5 games ahead of their divisional foes. However, there are still around 60 games to be played and plenty of time for any of the NL West teams to take a shot at the playoffs.
Kennedy had been an anchor for the Diamondbacks this season, but not in a good way. His 3-8 record and 5.23 ERA had been dragging Arizona down in an uncharacteristic season. The Diamondbacks made a smart move in unloading him and, from the reports of the trade, it sounds like they got a steal of a deal.
The Padres will be sending reliever Joe Thatcher, as well as a few minor league prospects to the Diamondbacks. Thatcher has appeared in 50 games this season for San Diego and has a 2.10 ERA in 30 innings pitched. A bolstered bullpen is only bad news for the Dodgers, who will face the Diamondbacks all too often at the end of the season.
San Diego’s inter-divisional trade certainly does not help the Dodgers out. The Boys in Blue will have an even tougher Arizona club to face down the stretch, but have been playing well enough to stand up to the task.
Isaac Comelli is a Los Angeles Dodgers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @IsaacComelli, “Like” him on Facebook or follow him on Google+.
