The Los Angeles Dodgers traded Eddys Leonard to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for cash considerations on Tuesday. The move was announced soon after the MLB trade deadline and wasn’t necessarily the deal the Dodgers had in mind with the Tigers.
The Dodgers and Tigers reached an agreement on an Eduardo Rodriguez trade, but the left-hander declined to approve the deal. Rodriguez had the Dodgers among 10 teams on a no-trade list. Though, that applied to Lance Lynn as well, and he waived it in order to be traded to the Dodgers.
Rodriguez’s decision was one Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts both admitted caught them by surprise.
Meanwhile, Leonard was traded four days after getting designated for assignment. That was among the Dodgers’ moves on July 28 in order to make room for Joe Kelly and Lynn on their 40-man roster.
That started a seven-day timeline for the Dodgers to either trade Leonard or potentially see him clear waivers and remain with the organization.
Leonard began his professional career with the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2017. He reached Double-A for the first time this season, and hit .254/.327/.411 with 20 doubles, 11 home runs and 44 RBI over 92 games for Double-A Tulsa.
Leonard was added onto the 40-man roster after the 2021 season to protect against potentially losing him in the Rule 5 Draft. Jacob Amaya, Jorbit Vivas, Michael Grove and James Outman were also added at that time.
Only Grove, Outman and Vivas remain part of the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.
What did Dodgers receive in Eddys Leonard trade?
While not providing specifics, Friedman said the Leonard trade amounted to the Dodgers receiving between $1 and $100,000, as per MLB rules with cash considerations.
Also on Tuesday, the Dodgers traded Phil Bickford and Adam Kolarek to the New York Mets for cash as well. In terms of an addition, prospects Devin Mann and Derlin Figueroa were traded to the royals for Ryan Yarbrough.
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