Dodgers: A Deal for Felipe Vazquez Held Up By Pittburgh Demands

The Dodgers want Pittsburgh Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez, this is not news. Los Angeles has been linked to the wipeout left-hander for the better part of a month as conversations revolve around Dodger prospects heading back to PITT.

ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney provided an update on the situation, and demands.

The Pirates-Dodgers talks about Felipe Vazquez currently bogged down in part because Pirates want No.1 prospect Gavin Lux and the Dodgers want to keep him.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 29, 2019

Olney says that talks are “bogged down” over Pittsburgh’s insistence that the Dodgers top infield prospect Gavin Lux be included in any deal.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington has spoken often about what he would want in a return for his All-Star closer. He has also come out and said that he has no plans to trade Vazquez.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington: I want all of your prospects for Felipe Vazquez.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington: We’re not trading Felipe Vazquez.

Pirates GM Neal Huntington: Give us Gavin Lux. pic.twitter.com/WLGdZFHwCC

— Clint Pasillas (FRG) (@realFRG) July 30, 2019

Felipe Vazquez is, by all measures, the Dodgers top trade target. He checks off a lot of boxes and needs for the 2019 club.

He’s a dominant, left-handed relief arm. He has closing experience with 79 saves since 2017. And he provides a safety net for LA in the even that current closer Kenley Jansen decides to opt out of the final two years of his contract and test free agency as a 32 year old.

Moreover, the 27 year-old Vazquez is under team control through his age 31 season, thanks to a very team friendly contract that includes two team option years valued at $10M each season.

Final thoughts

To get a lot, you have to give a lot at the trade deadline. And with as many as 16 teams within 4 games of a playoff berth, this is every bit of a sellers market. Gavin Lux is a red-hot prospect and everyone is baseball knows it. He’s undoubtedly the most untouchable prospect in the Dodger farm system, but rival GMs would be fools to not ask for him.

The MLB trade deadline is on Wednesday at 1pm PST, 4pm EST.

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