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The Los Angeles Dodgers enjoyed a 19-run explosion against the Athletics on Thursday night and it was a particular good sign in light of recent news.
The team opted for a bullpen game as it struggles to field healthy starting pitchers in the wake of persistent injuries, so the more offensive it can get from its star-studding batting order, the better.
The Dodgers have more than a dozen arms on the injured list, including Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, and the latest setback with Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has seen him added to that number with no clear timetable for a return.
"Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sasaki's injury is similar to the shoulder soreness that limited him to just 18 starts and 111 innings last year for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Nippon Professional Baseball," according to MLB.com's Kyle Glaser. "Roberts added Sasaki has no set timeline to return and that he will not pick up a baseball for a while."
With the return of a persistent injury for Sasaki among all of their other starter issues, the Dodgers might need to pursue a significant addition for the rotation. And Jon Conahan of Athlon Sports suggested they pursue a trade for Kansas City Royals ace Seth Lugo.
"While it isn't a guarantee that Lugo will be available, as the Kansas City Royals have played decent baseball to start the year, the veteran would be exactly what the Dodgers have targeted," Conahan wrote. "More importantly than anything else, when it comes to the right-hander, he's shown the ability to stay on the mound."
After signing a three-year, $45 million deal with the Royals ahead of last season, Lugo has emerged as a durable frontline ace. In his All-Star campaign last year, he made 33 starts and maintained a 3.00 ERA, earning a Gold Glove Award and votes for both the Cy Young Award and the Most Valuable Player Award as well.
So far this season, Lugo is showing he can repeat that success with a 3.02 ERA in his first nine starts.
As the Royals sit in third place in a highly-competitive American League Central division after the first quarter, the next few weeks could push them to offer up a major talent like Lugo. The Dodgers could be willing to trade away a significant haul for a player who would instantly fix their biggest weakness.
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