The Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone, and one of the more active teams was the Los Angeles Dodgers.
They began during the All-Star break by acquiring Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles, and then they completed two more trades on Tuesday just minutes before the deadline.
One of them was to acquire Minnesota Twins second baseman Brian Dozier, who they have been linked to for a couple years now, and the other was for Toronto Blue Jays reliever John Axford.
Dozier was able to catch on a flight from Minnesota on Tuesday afternoon and joined the Dodgers during their game against the Milwaukee Brewers, although he was not in the lineup and an opportunity didn’t arise for him to pinch-hit or enter off the bench.
Axford wasn’t able to get to Los Angeles as quick and he will not be joining the team until Friday’s series opener against the Houston Astros, via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Dodgers Dave Roberts said John Axford not expected to join team until Friday. Brian Dozier en route. Expected to arrive during tonight’s game
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 31, 2018
Upgrading the bullpen was one of the Dodgers biggest needs before the deadline, and the right-hander Axford was the only addition they ended up making.
Axford appeared 45 games (one start) for the Blue Jays this season, going 4-1 while yielding a 4.41 ERA, 4.02 FIP and 1.26 WHIP.
The Dodgers bullpen does not have distinct roles in front of closer Kenley Jansen, so it is unclear where Axford will fit in. He has some postseason experience though so he could prove to be a difference maker down the stretch.
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