Marlins trade Hanley Ramirez to Dodgers for Nate Eovaldi and Scott McGough

The Marlins have dealt Hanley Ramirez and Randy Choate to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Nate Eovaldi and “Scott McGough,” says our good friend over at FOX Sports, Jon Paul Morosi. The Dodgers will be paying all of the $31.5 million that Ramirez is owed over the next two years.

There indeed have been more than a few rumors of a potential Ramirez deal over the past few days, and well, that looks to have finally come to fruition. Ramirez has been a disaster over the past couple of seasons and his value has dropped as low as it probably ever has in his career, which is why I’m surprised that the deal took place now instead of, well, when and if his value ever grew. We knew that after the Marlins dealt Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante away at the beginning of the week that a few more trades could happen, but a Hanley deal was not one that I was truly expecting.

The Marlins seemed to have made a commitment to winning this past off-season when they signed Heath Bell, Mark Buehrle and Jose Reyes for almost $300 million, so this rebuilding phase that’s currently taking place makes some of those signings appear to be even more of a question mark. I suppose the hope, however, is that Jacob Turner and Eovaldi can help man a rotation that can — as the Marlins sure expect — compete for next year’s division crown.

The Marlins’ system has significantly improved since they drafted Christian Yelich and Jose Fernandez, as the two have easily slotted themselves among baseball’s best prospects, but the additions of Rob Brantly, Turner and now the aforementioned Eovaldi (even though he isn’t a prospect) make the young core on this team much more impressive a few years down.

For the Dodgers, who haven’t had much production at the hot corner or shortstop this year will indefinitely plug Ramirez into a position on the left-side of their infield. He’s been unproductive this season, but still has shown some decent power, so the Dodgers get better in that regard. Trading Eovaldi could haunt the Dodgers over the next few years but pitching isn’t the problem for them. Additionally, there have been rumors that even after acquiring Ramirez, the Dodgers could make a move for a starting pitcher. That starter could be Ryan Dempster.

I don’t know much about McGough, except that he is a pitcher with a decent fastball and the ability to strike some hitters out. That’s a good quality to have if you are a pitcher, but from what I’ve heard he doesn’t project to be anything more than a #5 starter or reliever. Who knows where he will start off or how much of an impact he can make on this team when he comes up, but the 22-year old (yikes) prospect is a 22-YEAR OLD PROSPECT IN HIGH-A.

A weird start to the day here on the East Coast, and who knows, it could get weirder if the Marlins continue unloaded pieces whom they don’t see as part of their future plans. For now this one deserves to soak in. Eovaldi is a guy with hard stuff which includes an explosive fastball, something of a potential #2 or #3, I’d say, but I don’t think he’s worth Hanley Ramirez.