The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek to the New York Mets in exchange for cash considerations on Tuesday. It was one of their three trades before the 3 p.m. PT deadline on August 1.
However, the trade also was part of a particularly disappointing day for the Dodgers. They were connected to a potential Justin Verlander trade, along with his former Mets teammates Mark Canha and Tommy Pham over recent days, but none ended up with the Dodgers.
Verlander was traded to the Houston Astros, Canha is now with the Marlins, and the Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Pham.
Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman intimated the team made an earnest effort to complete a Verlander trade, but that he preferred a return to the Astros. Verlander held a full no-trade clause, which in some sense complicated negotiations, but it was believed he would waive it for the Dodgers.
As for trading Bickford, it came four days after he was designated for assignment in order to make room on the active roster for Joe Kelly. Eddys Leonard was also DFA’d at the time, and the Dodgers traded him to the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday for cash considerations as well.
Bickford’s career with the Dodgers included multiple ups and downs, with this season bringing about more inconsistency. Bickford was a revelation upon joining the team in 2021, only to fall short of meeting those results in two ensuing years.
Over parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, Bickford went 8-6 with one save, a 4.11 ERA, 4.07 FIP and 1.19 WHIP in 152 relief appearances.
Kolarek appeared in just one game for the Dodgers this season, striking out two batters across 1.1 innings of work against the Philadelphia Phillies. He allowed one hit, which was a bloop single by Bryson Stott that scored two runs.
Kolarek previously had pitched for L.A. during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
The Dodgers originally acquired Kolarek from the Tampa Bay Rays at the 2019 MLB trade deadline in exchange for Minor League outfielder Niko Hulsizer.
After the 2020 season, the Dodgers traded Kolarek and Cody Thomas to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Sheldon Neuse and Gus Varland. Kolarek became a free agent after the 2022 season and was signed by the Dodgers to a Minor League contract.
Over parts of three seasons with the Dodgers, Kolarek has a 0.84 ERA, 3.08 FIP and 0.84 WHIP in 47 games.
What did Dodgers get in Phil Bickford & Adam Kolarek trade?
While not providing specifics, Friedman said trading Bickford and Kolarek amounted to the Dodgers receiving between $1 and $100,000, as per MLB rules with cash considerations.
In terms of an addition for the Dodgers on deadline day, prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa were traded to the royals for Ryan Yarbrough.
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