Dodgers acquire Lilly, Theriot from Cubs
Struggling to keep pace in the National League West and under tight financial constraints, the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday acquired veteran left-hander Ted Lilly(notes) and infielder Ryan Theriot(notes) from the Chicago Cubs.
In return, the Cubs received second baseman Blake DeWitt(notes), two minor league pitchers and agreed to pay $2.5 million of Lilly’s salary.
The Dodgers hope Lilly can help fuel a revival in the NL West, where they are seven games behind the San Diego Padres and 4½ behind the San Francisco Giants.
Dodgers starters – Clayton Kershaw(notes), Chad Billingsley(notes), Hiroki Kuroda(notes), Vicente Padilla(notes) and whomever they’ve rolled through the five spot – have been outperformed by their Padres and Giants counterparts, jeopardizing the Dodgers’ run of back-to-back division titles and NLCS appearances.
Through 18 starts, Lilly has a 3.69 ERA, but only three wins. Due to run-support issues, Lilly lost or drew a no-decision in nine starts in which allowed three earned runs or fewer and pitched at least six innings.
Dodger Stadium hasn’t been kind to Lilly. In four career games there, including three starts, he is 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA. In his only start in Los Angeles in 2010, Lilly allowed seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The versatile Theriot, who is making $2.6 million in his first arbitration season, gives the Dodgers another infield option. He’s similar to Jamey Carroll(notes), but much younger.
Elsewhere in the NL West, the Padres improved their offense by acquiring Ryan Ludwick(notes) and Miguel Tejada(notes). The Rockies appear to be on the sidelines and the Giants haven’t been able to add a hitter.
