In the summer of 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a big move to solidify their starting pitching rotation for the remainder of the season. They traded for Yu Darvish, a top-tier pitcher at the time, from the Texas Rangers.
The move was aimed at boosting the Dodgers’ chances of making a deep playoff run and ultimately winning a World Series championship.
However, the trade came at a cost, as the Dodgers had to give up three promising minor league prospects in exchange for Darvish’s services.
In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at what the Dodgers gave up for Yu Darvish, as well as the potential benefits and drawbacks of the trade for both teams.
We’ll also analyze Darvish’s performance with the Dodgers compared to his time with the Rangers and evaluate the impact of the trade on both franchises.
Background on Yu Darvish
Yu Darvish is a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who made his debut in the MLB in 2012 with the Texas Rangers. Prior to joining the Rangers, he had an impressive career in Japan, where he played for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters for seven seasons.
During his time in Japan, Darvish was a seven-time All-Star, a two-time Pacific League MVP, and led the league in strikeouts three times.
Darvish quickly established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB, earning two All-Star selections and finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2013.
He missed the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery but bounced back strong in 2016, finishing 12-4 with a 3.09 ERA and 132 strikeouts in just 100.1 innings pitched.
When the Dodgers acquired Darvish in 2017, he was still considered one of the top pitchers in the league. At the time of the trade, he had a 6-9 record with a 4.01 ERA and 148 strikeouts in 137 innings pitched for the Rangers.
The Dodgers were hoping that Darvish could help lead them to a World Series championship, and they were willing to part with some of their top prospects to make it happen.
Dodgers’ Need for a Pitcher
Going into the 2017 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were already considered one of the best teams in the league. They had a deep and talented lineup, as well as a strong bullpen, but their starting pitching rotation was seen as an area of weakness.
The Dodgers had several quality starters, including Clayton Kershaw, Rich Hill, and Kenta Maeda, but they were lacking a true ace to lead their staff.
The Dodgers’ need for a top-tier pitcher was highlighted by their performance in the 2016 playoffs. Despite having a 91-71 record in the regular season, they were eliminated in the National League Championship Series by the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs had a dominant starting pitching rotation, which included Jon Lester, Kyle Hendricks, and Jake Arrieta, and the Dodgers struggled to keep up.
To avoid a similar fate in 2017, the Dodgers knew they needed to add a top-tier pitcher to their rotation.
When the opportunity arose to acquire Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers, they jumped at the chance, believing that he would be the missing piece that they needed to win a World Series championship.
Details of the Trade
In order to acquire Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers in 2017, the Los Angeles Dodgers had to part ways with three highly-touted minor league prospects: Willie Calhoun, A.J. Alexy, and Brendon Davis.
Willie Calhoun was the most highly-regarded of the three prospects. He was a second baseman/outfielder who was ranked as the Dodgers’ fourth-best prospect by MLB Pipeline at the time of the trade.
Calhoun was known for his impressive power at the plate, and he had hit 23 home runs in Triple-A prior to the trade. After the trade, he made his MLB debut with the Rangers in September 2017 and has since played for the Rangers, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
A.J. Alexy was a right-handed pitcher who was ranked as the Dodgers’ 17th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline at the time of the trade.
He had a strong arm and a developing slider, and he had posted a 2.92 ERA with 110 strikeouts in 93.1 innings pitched in Class-A prior to the trade. Alexy has since made his MLB debut with the Rangers in 2021.
Brendon Davis was an infielder who was ranked as the Dodgers’ 27th-best prospect by MLB Pipeline at the time of the trade. He was a versatile player who could play multiple positions, including shortstop and third base.
Davis struggled at the plate in the minors prior to the trade, but he has since shown some improvement and currently plays for the Rangers’ Triple-A team.
While all three prospects had significant potential, the Dodgers believed that trading them for a top-tier pitcher like Yu Darvish was a worthwhile move to bolster their chances of winning a championship.
Analysis of the Trade
The Dodgers’ decision to trade for Yu Darvish in 2017 was a bold move that reflected their commitment to winning a World Series championship.
While the trade cost them three highly-touted prospects, they believed that Darvish’s presence in their rotation would significantly improve their chances of success.
In terms of the benefits of the trade, Darvish did provide a significant boost to the Dodgers’ starting pitching rotation. In nine regular season starts with the team, he went 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 49.2 innings pitched.
He also started two playoff games for the Dodgers, although he struggled in both outings and the team ultimately lost in the World Series.
However, there were also drawbacks to the trade. Darvish’s struggles in the playoffs were a major disappointment, and his performance with the Dodgers overall was not quite as dominant as it had been with the Rangers earlier in his career.
Additionally, the loss of three top prospects could have long-term consequences for the Dodgers’ farm system and their ability to develop young talent.
On the Rangers’ side of the trade, the benefits were more clear-cut. They acquired three talented prospects who had the potential to contribute to their team for years to come.
However, it remains to be seen how successful those prospects will ultimately be, and the Rangers have struggled in the years since the trade, so it’s difficult to say whether the trade was a major turning point for them.
When comparing Darvish’s performance with the Dodgers to his performance with the Rangers, it’s clear that he was not quite as dominant with the Dodgers as he had been earlier in his career.
However, he still provided solid production for the team and helped them make a deep playoff run. Ultimately, while the trade was a high-risk move for the Dodgers, it was one that they felt was necessary to compete at the highest level.
Players Involved in the Yu Darvish Trade
| Team | Player | Position | Current Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | Yu Darvish | Pitcher | Playing for Padres |
| Dodgers | Willie Calhoun | 2B/OF | Playing for Rangers |
| Dodgers | A.J. Alexy | Pitcher | Playing for Rangers |
| Dodgers | Brendon Davis | Infielder | Playing in Minor Leagues |
| Rangers | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Note: The trade was a one-for-three deal, with the Dodgers sending three prospects to the Rangers in exchange for Yu Darvish. The Rangers are not listed in the table because they did not acquire any major league players as part of the trade.
FAQ
Did Yu Darvish re-sign with the Dodgers after the 2017 season?
No, Yu Darvish did not re-sign with the Dodgers after the 2017 season. He became a free agent and signed with the Chicago Cubs.
How have the prospects the Dodgers traded away for Yu Darvish performed since the trade?
Willie Calhoun, one of the prospects traded by the Dodgers, has played in the major leagues with the Rangers and has shown promise as a hitter. A.J. Alexy, another prospect, has also played in the majors with the Rangers and has pitched well in limited action. Brendon Davis, the third prospect, is still in the minor leagues.
Did the trade ultimately help the Dodgers win a World Series?
While the trade did not directly result in a World Series championship for the Dodgers, Yu Darvish’s contributions to the team during the 2017 season were significant and helped them make a deep playoff run. The trade also demonstrated the team’s commitment to winning and willingness to make bold moves to improve their chances of success.
To Recap
The trade that sent Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers to the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 was a significant move that had both benefits and drawbacks for both teams involved.
While the Dodgers gained a talented pitcher who helped them make a deep playoff run, they also gave up three highly-touted prospects who could have contributed to their team for years to come.
The Rangers, on the other hand, acquired three promising prospects who could help them build for the future, but it remains to be seen how successful those prospects will ultimately be. Overall, the trade was a high-risk move for the Dodgers, but one that they felt was necessary to compete at the highest level.
