The two biggest trades during this year's MLB trade deadline involved NL West rivals Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The defending World Series champion Dodgers have much to their chagrin been looking up to the upstart Giants all season in the division standings.
But the Dodgers made a statement with the acquisition of three Cy Young winner and future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer from the Washington Nationals along with the currently COVID bound shortstop Trea Turner. The Giants responded by acquiring former NL MVP Kris Bryant from the Chicago Cubs. Both men have a World Series ring to the credit with the 2019 Nats and the 2016 Cubs, respectively.
Scherzer, 37, was in the final year of a 7-year contract in D.C. and is due to be a free agent at the end of the season. But Scherzer can make an impact in 3 short months. If nothing else, he'll get his 3,000th strikeout in a Dodger uniform. He only needs 69 more Ks to reach that mark. In 19 starts with the Nats this season, Scherzer went 8-4 with a 2.76 ERA as he made his 8th consecutive All-Star Team.
In going to San Francisco, Kris Bryant gets a new coat of paint after spending his entire six plus year big league career in Wrigley. Like Scherzer, Bryant is a free agent at the end of 2021. But San Francisco might put some wind in his sails. His numbers have been good but he has been nowhere near the player he was when he won the NL MVP five years. At 29, Bryant should be entering the prime of his career. Perhaps being in the presence of Buster Posey who has three World Series rings to his name could give him renewed purpose.
Not only will this take the Dodgers-Giants rivalry up a notch you can throw the San Diego Padres into the mix who came oh so close to getting Scherzer. Chances are all three teams will make the post-season. The question is whether either the Dodgers or Padres knock the Giants out of the top spot in the NL West.
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