Florida Marlins starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco is on the trading block and could be heading to a few teams in the very near future, according to MLBlogs.com.
Currently, the Los Angeles Dodgers are the favorite to acquire the veteran right-hander. Nolasco would provide a solid arm for LA heading into the second half of the season. The Dodgers have a record below .500 (39-43) but the NL West is still wide open and they find themselves only 2.5 games out of first place. This means the Dodgers are buyers and will look to sustain a postseason push. The addition of Nolasco could help
If the team partially-owned by Magic Johnson does not get Nolasco, the next candidates could be the Rockies, Giants or Padres—three other NL West teams. In the AL East the Baltimore Orioles have inquired about Nolasco. There is very little chance the Marlins keep Nolasco and he will almost definitely to be traded.
The Marlins have already made plans to continue business as usual without seven-year starter by activating Henderson Alvarez from the 60-day disabled list.
Nolasco has had a good year with a .3.93 ERA, a 4-8 record (which he has pitched better than and is a product of being on a last place team) and 83 strikeouts. Hitters are batting .263 against him and have an on-base percentage of .310. If Nolasco were to go to the Dodgers he would most likely be either the fourth or fifth starter since the team has Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 1.93 ERA, 126 strikeouts), Hyun-Jin Ryu (6-3, 2.83 ERA, 87 strikeouts) and Zack Greinke (who missed some time with a shoulder injury but still has a 5-2 record 3.94 ERA and 48 strikeouts) as the top three starters in their rotation.
*All stats accordingto ESPN.com
