In early 2020, the Boston Red Sox traded star outfielder Mookie Betts, the MVP of the 2018 season, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
It was a complex trade that also netted the Dodgers pitcher David Price, a former Cy Young award winner.
Between injuries and underperformance, Price’s 2020 and 2021 campaigns were nothing to write home about.
In fact, he didn’t play in 2020.
However, the Dodgers are known for getting the most out of their players, and they are finally achieving success with Price.
“To make the Mookie Betts trade even better, David Price has his lowest ERA (2.51) since he finished 2nd in Cy Young voting back in 2015,” Dodgers insider Blake Harris tweeted.
To make the Mookie Betts trade even better, David Price has his lowest ERA (2.51) since he finished 2nd in Cy Young voting back in 2015
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHarrisTBLA) August 16, 2022
The Dodgers Found The Perfect Role For The Veteran Left-Hander
The Dodgers understood that Price’s arm and body probably couldn’t hold up as a starter.
As a result, they turned him into a traditional reliever.
Not a multi-inning bullpen arm, or a closer, or an opener, or a bulk guy: a traditional, one-inning-per-game reliever.
He has 32.1 innings in his 32 games, and his 2.51 ERA indicates he has been extremely successful in the role.
That success is also validated by his solid 3.27 Fielding Independent Pitching, or FIP.
In his new role, Price is striking out 9.46 hitters per nine frames, while only walking 1.95.
Oh, and the quality of the contact he is allowing also favors him: his 53.3 groundball percentage is ideal.
The Dodgers had patience with him, took things slow, and found a role that suited him at this stage of his career.
As a result, their efforts are being rewarded with a rock-solid left-hander reliever, and there is always a use for those in a major league bullpen.
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