Weeks after being put on waivers, the Toronto Blue Jays have traded Kevin Kiermaier to the Los Angeles Dodgers, reports Robert Murray of MLB.com Former Tampa Bay Rays teammate Ryan Yarbrough heads back to Toronto. Kiermaier confirmed last week that 2024 will be his final season in the majors. He will now spend the final months of his career in a Dodger uniform. Kiermaier has a .546 OPS through 217 plate appearances this season. He likely won’t see much field time with Los Angeles, but he could make the occasional start in center field for Andy Pages.
The Dodgers also reached a deal with the Detroit Tigers to acquire right-hander Jack Flaherty. Detroit opted to keep Tarik Skubal over Flaherty, with the full package not yet known.
Blue Jays Trade Kevin Kiermaier to Dodgers
Kiermaier, 34, signed a one-year extension with the Blue Jays this past offseason. Unfortunately, his offensive numbers took a nosedive in his second season with Toronto. Kiermaier batted .195 after nearly reaching a career-high at the plate last season. However, he won his fourth Gold Glove in center field in 2023 and has shown that defensive excellence in 2024. He ranks among the league leaders in defensive runs saved and outs above average.
Los Angeles has had a busy deadline, much like their offseason. The Dodgers got utilityman Tommy Edman and reliever Michael Kopech as part of a three-team trade Monday. The rotation has been through multiple injuries this season, but Tyler Glasnow and Clayton Kershaw returned last week. Walker Buehler and Bobby Miller are set to return from the injured list soon. Right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto remains on the injured list with a shoulder injury with no return date revealed.
For Yarbrough, he is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.
More to come.
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