More Thome and Garland Stuff

So we now know the Dodgers have officially acquired Jim Thome and Jon Garland. The question is, how will they help the Dodgers and affect the team?

Let's start with Thome. The Dodgers already have a first baseman in James Loney. Loney's been struggling mightily in the last six weeks, and has one of the lowest OPS's of any regular, everyday first basemen. Thome used to be a regular first baseman, until he was traded from Philly to the White Sox before the 2005 season. Since then, Thome has played in fewer than five games at first base, being completely restricted to a designated hitter.

Having said all that, the Dodgers were in the market for a hitter who could provide some pop off the bench. The team has just four homeruns this season off the bench, and two of them are from regular starters. So they acquired Ronnie Belliard yesterday from Washington to help in that area. The hope was he would be that guy. But then Thome was made available this morning, and the Dodgers jumped at the opportunity to add one more bat.

According to Ned Colletti, who was just on Dodgers Live on FS Prime Ticket after the game, Thome called him about half hour before the deadline and told him that playing first base was more or less out of the question. Thome is 39 years old and hasn't really played much on the field in four years, mainly because of back issues in recent years, so he basically toldColletti that he'd love to go out to L.A. and help in any other way possible, such as providing a much needed bat off the bench. When they both agreed on this, Thome waived his no-trade clause and was sent packing to L.A.

Thome will be in L.A. not to take Loney's job, but to merely back him up and provide some power off the bench. He does have 23 this season, and only 564 in his illustrious career. So he will be a much needed addition in that area. On top of that, Thome is a swell guy, and he's a great teammate if you ask anyone who's ever played with him. He has post-season experience, as well, so his presence alone will be an added bonus.

As for Garland, he'll provide much needed depth in the rotation.

The Dodgers have coveted him for months, going back to last off-season when they attempted to sign him (and signed Randy Wolf instead) as a free agent. With him, you know what you're getting: consistency and innings. Much needed innings, at this point.

The Dodger rotation has thrown the fewest innings of any team in the league, and the pen has thrown the most innings in the league. So adding a guy who will give them innings at the back end of the rotation will be much appreciated. Plus, with the uncertainty of how Hiroki Kuroda will respond once he's back this weekend after being plunked in the head three weeks ago by a batted ball, adding Garland for practically nothing right now can only help.

And if they end up with six starters when all is said and done, the more the merrier.

So obviously both players will help in some way, shape or form, and hopefully the end result of it all will be a World Series win.