Alex Wood

[JosephC]

There is a note on MLBTradeRumors that the Dodgers have discussed LHP-Alex Wood in trade talks.

 

The bad thing about Wood is that he is only under control for one more year.

 

The good thing about Wood is that he is only under control for one more year which means he could actually be somewhat affordable.

 

He has had some injury problems in the past but nothing serious during the last couple of years. Has only been in the 150 innings pitched range in each of the last two seasons, but the Dodgers have shuffled him back and forth between the rotation and the pen due to their excess of left handed starting pitching.

 

Over the last three years:

121 inning pitched average, 3.29 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 122 ERA+, 3.39 FIP, 3.6 K/BB

 

I'd guess the Dodgers shoot for 2.5 WAR value for 2019. Steamer only projects him for 0.7 WAR but also has only projected him for 56 innings pitched which really doesn't seem reasonable. If teams aren't interested only having one year of control and his injury history, I think Wood could be a solid pickup and perhaps at a price that would be less than anticipated. He is projected to make 9 million in his final year of arbitration, which may also steer small market/non-contenders away from him. If the price gets bid down to 2 WAR, then it just becomes a matter on who's role player and fringe prospects the Dodgers like best. Looking at the Dodgers pitching roster...Kershaw, Hill, Ryu, Ferguson, Alexander, Urias...with Cingrani and McCreery as insurance policies, they definitely could decided to just trade Wood now and take what they can get for him.