The 1 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline on Thursday passed without the Dodgers reinforcing their pitching staff or finding Matt Kemp a new home.
General Manager Ned Colletti warned of this scenario Wednesday night, when he said he didn’t want to trade any of the Dodgers’ top three prospects: triple-A outfielder Joc Pederson, double-A infielder Corey Seager and Class-A left-hander Julio Urias.
More than one of them would have been required to land pitcher David Price, whom the Tampa Bay Rays sent to the Detroit Tigers in a three-way trade involving the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners landed Austin Jackson from the Tigers, while the Rays received Nick Franklin from the Mariners and Drew Smyly from the Tigers, according to the multiple reports.
Price wasn’t the only front-line starter to be traded in the hours leading up to the deadline. The Boston Red Sox sent Jon Lester and outfielder Jonny Gomes to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for All-Star outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.
John Lackey was also traded, from the Red Sox to the St. Louis Cardinals. He, too, came at a considerable cost, as outfielder Allen Craig and right-hander Joe Kelly were sent from the Red Sox to the Cardinals.
The Dodgers also couldn’t land a reliever. Potential targets Joaquin Benoit and Oliver Perez play for division rivals — Benoit for the San Diego Padres and Perez the Arizona Diamondbacks — which made them difficult to land.
As for Kemp, he is likely to have to settle for playing right field for the remainder of the season. Kemp has said he would like to play center field again and made it sound as if he was open to a trade.
Kemp has hit three home runs in his last two games and is batting .486 over his last nine games.
The Dodgers could still add a pitcher in the coming month.
Most players will be placed on waivers in August. They could be claimed by the Dodgers or, if they clear waivers, could be acquired in a trade.
The Dodgers acquired Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett and Carl Crawford in an August waiver deal in 2012.
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