Dodgers News: GM Praises Ryan Yarbrough as Ultimate Competitor

At the trade deadline, the Dodgers needed some impactful moves to help bolster their bullpen. It has seen some struggles earlier in the season, and while things have calmed down since, it’s not exactly where LA would like it to be.

The team made a few smaller moves at the deadline to help add to the overall depth of the pen. One of which was acquiring left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough from the Kansas City Royals.

Yarbrough was seen as more of a depth-type move for LA, and the deal was completed with only a few seconds left before the deadline expiration. But since he arrived in Los Angeles, Yarbrough has made a big impact.

He has given them a legit left-hander option to use in crucial situations, and he seems to be enjoying his time with the team. His numbers have dropped since joining LA, and the hope is that it can continue for the rest of the season.

Recently General Manager Brandon Gomes spoke on the trade and why the Dodgers were interested in the lefty to begin with.

“It was like, ‘look this guy put up really good numbers and his ability to flood the zone with multiple pitches’ – we could then work later on execution, stability with our game planning,” Gomes said. “The compete on this guy is through the roof. Everybody in Tampa and Kansas City was saying, ‘it’s just the ultimate competitor.’ He wants to win and he puts a huge emphasis on that, wants to be the best he can be.”

Per The OC Register

At this point, the Dodgers seem to have a solid grasp on acquiring players that people don’t believe will work out, only to then turn them into contributing players on the field.

During his time with Kansas City this season, Yarbrough held an ERA of 4.24 in 14 games played, With the Dodgers, he has an ERA of 2.35 through five games. While it’s a small sample size, it’s a dramatic shift in terms of his ERA on the year.

The Dodgers will be counting on Yarbrough down the stretch of the season and into the postseason. If he can prove to them that he can be trusted when it really matters, he will see some legit playing time in the playoffs this season.