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Ted Lilly, arguably the best starting pitcher left on the market, has been shipped to Los Angeles along with Ryan Theriot in exchange for Blake DeWitt and at least one minor leaguer.
The Dodgers have been perhaps the only team to sustain interest in Cubs starter Ted Lilly from the beginning. Word spread this morning that they were making a strong push, and now it appears they've completed a deal that will bring in a starting pitcher, along with a new infielder:
Cubs have completed Lilly-Theriot deal with Dodgers. Plug pulled on 2010.
Ken Rosenthal brings some info on the return:
#Cubs would get DeWitt, Class AA pitcher and possibly third player for Lilly/Theriot package. Not sure of financial exchange.
The key to this deal, for the Dodgers, is obviously Ted Lilly, who was probably the best remaining starting pitcher on the market. The free agent to be has upped his stock since the All-Star break and has posted a 3.69 ERA with the Cubs, with a 3.1 K/BB in 18 starts. He'll fit in with Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Vicente Padilla, and Hiroki Kuroda to form a solid Dodger rotation, 1-through-5. The Cubs, it's guessed, will pay at least some portion of his remaining salary.
Ryan Theriot has two remaining years of team control, and has posted a disappointing .647 OPS on the year after having good success at the plate in 2008 and 2009. He is a middle infielder by trade, and a plus defender who makes a lot of contact.
Blake DeWitt has four remaining years of team control, and he's broken out this year with a .270/.352/.371 batting line. The soon-to-be 25 year old second baseman has had some struggles in the field, but he makes a lot of contact at the plate, is capable of drawing a walk, and isn't completely devoid of power.
The rest of the package is unclear, but we'll update you with more as this develops. Meanwhile, also be sure to check in on True Blue LA and Bleed Cubbie Blue. The Dodgers have made an impact addition to counter the Ryan Ludwick trade by San Diego, while the Cubs have called it quits for 2010. We'll have to see if the additions made by their two closest rivals spurs the Giants into action.
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Odds Shark 
Cubs Land Brett Wallach, Kyle Smit In Ted Lilly Trade
And now, courtesy of Jayson Stark, we can piece together the complete Ted Lilly trade:
Brett Wallach - son of Tim Wallach - is a 21 year old righty starter who's spent the year with A-ball Great Lakes, striking out 92 in 84.2 innings over 17 starts. He was the Dodgers' third-round selection in the 2009 draft, and comes with a fastball in the 88-92mph range, a developing slider, and a decent changeup. His command needs a lot of work if he wants to have a big league career.
Smit is a 22 year old righty reliever who was recently promoted to AA. He's shown good command and decent strikeout stuff in the low minors, but needs to sustain it in the upper levels before he can be counted on to contribute to a Major League bullpen.
Jul 31 2:34p by Jeff Sullivan - 0 comments