Cubs trade Marmol to Dodgers
With a few minor adjustments to his mechanics, the Los Angeles Dodgers believe they can resurrect the career of reliever Carlos Marmol.
The Dodgers acquired the struggling closer from the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday for right-hander Matt Guerrier.
“He’s still got a lot of youth to him,” Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a conference call before a game in Denver. “He’s not on the downside of his career. He needs, perhaps, a change of scenery and an adjustment with his delivery.”
Colletti said the team detected flaws in Marmol’s mechanics, something they feel confident can be worked out. Marmol is currently in the Dominican Republic, but should report to the team soon.
“Anytime you can add somebody who’s had success pitching the ninth, you can always use them in roles that don’t include the ninth,” Colletti said. “If you need the ninth, you’ve got somebody that’s at least experienced. We’re looking to add to the pen. Whatever that role becomes, it will become.”
The Cubs designated Marmol for assignment last week. He was 2-4 with two saves and a 5.86 ERA in 31 appearances this season, striking out 32 while walking 21 batters.
An All-Star as a setup man in 2008, Marmol’s best year as a closer was 2010, when he had 38 saves in 43 chances along with 138 strikeouts and 52 walks.
“His stuff is power stuff,” manager Don Mattingly said. “At the end of the day, he helps us. We know he’s a guy that has good stuff and has a potential to be nasty.”
Milwaukee 4, Washington 0: Stephen Strasburg had hitters flailing at curveballs for seven scoreless innings, getting all eight of his strikeouts with the same pitch in a magnificent outing that was wasted when the Milwaukee Brewers scored off the Washington Nationals bullpen for a 4-0 victory.
Atlanta 11, Miami 3: Chris Johnson’s two-run, go-ahead double was the big hit in a four-run sixth inning that helped the Braves to a 11-3 win over the Miami Marlins.
Boston 4, San Diego 1: Brandon Snyder hit a bases-loaded double and John Lackey struck out six over eight strong innings for the Boston Red Sox in a 4-1 win over the slumping San Diego Padres.
Chicago White Sox 5, Baltimore 2: Adam Dunn and Conor Gillaspie homered while John Danks pitched into the eighth inning to help the Chicago White Sox snap the Baltimore Orioles’ four-game winning streak with a 5-2 victory.
Detroit 7, Toronto 6: Torii Hunter drove in the tiebreaking run with a two-out infield single in the eighth inning, and the Detroit Tigers rallied from a 4-0 deficit to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6.
Porcella suspended 6 games: Detroit Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello was suspended six games Tuesday by Major League Baseball for throwing at Ben Zobrist of the Tampa Bay Rays.
The right-hander said he will appeal the decision, which was announced before the Tigers played at Toronto. He also was fined an undisclosed amount.
Porcello hit Zobrist with a high-inside pitch in the first inning Sunday. Both benches were warned, but Porcello was not ejected.