Dodgers, Orioles Swap Minor League Pitchers

Image credit: Jesus Liranzo (Photo by Mark Cunningham/Getty Images)

The Orioles and Dodgers swung a trade of minor league pitchers on Monday. The Orioles traded Double-A righthander Jesus Liranzo to L.A. in exchange for lefthander Luis Ysla.

It’s the second year in a row the Dodgers and Orioles hooked up for a trade of pitchers. Last year the Dodgers traded Vidal Nuno to Baltimore in exchange for Ryan Moseley.

 

 

Dodgers acquire:
Jesus Liranzo, RHP
Age: 23

Liranzo ranked as the Orioles No. 19 prospect after going 3-4, 4.85 at Double-A Bowie last season with a high strikeout rate (10.4 SO/9) but also a high walk rate (5.95 BB/9). Liranzo possesses a live arm and a 94-96 mph fastball, but he has never been able to harness it and draws bottom-of-the-scale grades on his command from evaluators. He also has a big but erratic breaking ball in the 82-84 mph range and an upper 80s changeup. Liranzo is slow to the plate, struggles to repeat his release point and has never shown the ability to throw consistent strikes. The Dodgers are taking a chance on his big arm, and hoping a change of scenery can help him out. He will begin at Double-A Tulsa.

Orioles acquire:
Luis Ysla, LHP
Age: 25

Ysla joins his fourth organization in three seasons with Monday’s trade. He went 1-5, 5.28 in Double-A last year, splitting time in the Dodgers and Red Sox’s organizations. Ysla intrigues as a lefty with a mid-90s fastball that features some cutting action, but he doesn’t have a viable secondary offering and struggles to throw strikes. When he was younger there was hope he could become a potential lefty specialist if his slider developed, but it never did. Ysla is an organizational arm for evaluators at this point. He will begin with Double-A Bowie, his third straight year at the level.