Evidently, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Seattle Mariners saw something in one of each other's minor-league hurlers. that they liked.
On Monday, the two squads completed the kind of trade people don't always remember. But when it comes to pitchers, anyone can break out under the right circumstances, so bookmark this date in case one of these two pans out.
The Mariners had designated right-handed pitcher Will Klein for assignment, so they had to either trade him or risk losing him to waivers. They sent him to the Dodgers for left-handed pitcher Joe Jacques. Neither pitcher has made a major league appearance in 2025.
Joel Sherman of the New York Post was the first to report the news that Jacques was traded on Monday morning. Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 in Houston reported that Klein was headed back to Los Angeles in the deal.
Klein, 25, spent the entire season with Triple-A Tacoma, pitching to a 7.17 ERA in 21 1/3 innings. However, he struck out 32 batters in that stretch (13.5 K/9), though he'll certainly have to clean up his 19 walks.
In 2024, Klein had an 11.05 ERA in eight major league games for the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics.
Follow The Sporting News On WhatsApp
Jacques, 30, has a little more big-league time under his belt, with 25 appearances for the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks. He put up a 6.04 ERA in Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, striking out 24 in 22 1/3 innings.
Both of these clubs have had excellent results finding diamonds in the rough in their bullpen in recent years. The move could be as simple as the Dodgers wanting an extra righty, and the Mariners, a lefty.
Be sure to keep an eye on Klein and Jacques the rest of the way to determine the ever-present question: "Who won the trade?"
More MLB: Dodgers' Dave Roberts announces Hyeseong Kim decision after huge game vs. Yankees