The Dodgers have acquired 32-year old lefty reliever George Sherrill from the Orioles for 22-year old switch hitting 3B Josh Bell and 21-year old righty starting pitcher Steve Johnson. Sherrill pitched in 42 games (0 starts) for the Orioles this season and he was 0-1 with 20 saves, a 2.40 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. Sherrill will work late in games in front of Jonathan Broxton. Sherrill has now pitched in 294 games (0 starts) in his major league career and he is 13-14 with 55 saves, a 3.67 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. To get Sherrill was not cheap though. Josh Bell was the Dodgers’ #8 rated prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Bell has played in 94 games in AA-ball this season and he is 99 for 334 (.296 avg, .883 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 11 homers, 52 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Steve Johnson was the Dodgers’ #15 prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America. Johnson has pitched in 20 games (18 starts) in A+AA ball this season and he is 9-5 with 1 save, a 3.61 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. Johnson has 117 stikeouts in 107 1/3 innings this season showing what kind of stuff he has. Despite the high price this was a move the Dodgers had to make.

21-year old lefty starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw is still learning how to pitch but the results have still been outstanding. If he ever finds out how to throw more strikes he will be one of the best pitchers in the majors. Kershaw has started 20 games for the Dodgers this season and he is 8-5 with a 2.96 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. He has been wild walking 63 batters in 112 2/3 innings this season but he also misses a ton of bats. Kershaw has only allowed 79 hits this season while whiffing 110 batters which shows how nasty his stuff is. The Dodgers better resist the temptation to trade Kershaw as they have something special in him.

Veteran lefty starting pitcher Eric Milton will miss the rest of the 2009 season due to back surgery. This is a shame as Milton worked his way back to the majors after many injuries earning a spot in the Dodgers’ rotation. Now he will be back to the drawing board. Milton pitched in 5 games (all starts) for the Dodgers this year and he was 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP.

The Dodgers have their eyes on starting pitching as the trade deadline approaches. They definately need one starting pitcher and possibly two. The Dodgers would like to get ahold of Jeremy Guthrie of the Orioles but that would likely cost them Xavier Paul, Blake DeWitt and either James McDonald or Cory Wade. I would make either of those deals as Guthrie is a very underrated pitcher. The Dodgers will try to put together something to try to lure the Blue Jays into making a trade with Roy Halladay coming to L.A. but they might not have enough good prospects to make that happen. They could go after Cliff Lee of the Indians but that would likely cost them Paul, DeWitt, Wade and McDonald. Still, that is a trade that would make perfect sense for the Dodgers. They could even expand the deal to include Carl Pavano. If the Dodgers want to buy low then they will consider calling the Pirates and ask about righties Ian Snell, Jeff Karstens and lefty Tom Gorzelanny. The price wouldn’t be too high for any of those three pitchers. The Red Sox wouldn’t likely part with either Michael Bowden or Clay Buchholz for what the Dodgers are willing to offer. The D-Backs might be receptive to dealing Jon Garland/Doug Davis to the rival Dodgers as long as the price is right. The Padres would be willing to trade Chad Gaudin or Kevin Correia for fringe prospects. Andy Sonnanstine could likely be had from the Rays for either McDonald, DeWitt or Wade. The Nationals will also be calling the Dodgers about Scott Olsen and the price will be cheap if they want him. The Reds might be willing to trade Bronson Arroyo or Homer Bailey but they wouldn’t come cheap. The Twins would probably have an interest in Blake DeWitt and either Wade or McDonald in return for rookie starting pitcher Andy Swarzak. Look for the Dodgers to be aggressive in the trading market as they will try to improve the starting rotation.

31-year old righty swinging outfielder Mitch Jones made his major league debut this season playing in 8 games with the Dodgers and going 4 for 13 (.308 avg, .785 OPS) with 1 run scored. He earned his promotion with his power display in the minors earlier this season. Jones has played in 55 games in AAA-ball this season and he is 56 for 192 (.292 avg, 1.044 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 21 homers, 50 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. If nothing else Jones will likely get recalled when rosters expand in September if he continues to mash the ball in AAA.