Now the Dodgers are really in control.
Of the division. Of the National League. Of the prospects they so dearly love.
And Los Angeles' think tank still managed to get their man: Yu Darvish.
Even for a team riding four straight NL West titles, it was a must-make move.
They haven't been to a World Series since 1988. They've lost Clayton Kershaw to a back injury for the second year in a row and can't be certain what he'll be when he returns. The rotation was in need of right-handed balance. With baseball's best record, the time was now to capitalize on momentum _ on the field, in the clubhouse and in the hearts of drought-weary Los Angeles fans.
Darvish checks all of those boxes at a price the Dodgers could absorb _ three prospects not named Walker Buehler, Alex Verdugo or Yadier Alvarez.
Not that Texas' return is anything to turn your nose up at: Willie Calhoun, A.J. Alexy and Brendon Davis were ranked No. 4, No. 17 and No. 27 in the Dodgers system.
That would hurt most teams.
The Dodgers aren't most teams.
Six of their eight starters are 28 or younger and their top producer (Cody Bellinger) is 22. They've got a seemingly endless supply of money to fill holes when their farm system falters, and of course, their farm system usually doesn't (see Bellinger, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and that Kershaw fellow).
At least not in the regular season. The postseason, even with a healthy Kershaw at the top of the rotation, has been another story altogether.
Enter Darvish, the big prize on a day that also saw the Dodgers add two lefties (Tony Watson and Tony Cingrani) to their bullpen _ again without touching Buehler, Verdugo or Alvarez.
He's a four-time All-Star who's fanned 11 batters per nine innings in his career. He's got ace stuff. He's a prime change-of-scenery candidate after a dismal July (7.20 ERA) spoiled a splendid first three months (3.11 ERA).
Indeed, Darvish slots in ahead of the revitalized Alex Wood and Rich Hill/Kenta Maeda/Hyun-Jin Ryu.
If Kershaw is anything close to Kershaw, Darvish is a devastating second punch to throw in any series.
Now, on to the other winners and losers from today's deadline action ...
