With the prospect of losing out in the Jeff Weaver sweepstakes increasing by the day, the Dodgers traded for a starting pitcher Wednesday, acquiring Jae Seo from the New York Mets for right-handed relievers Duaner Sanchez and Steve Schmoll.
The Dodgers also picked up left-handed reliever Tim Hamulack in the deal, which General Manager Ned Colletti said had been percolating over the holidays.
Seo, 28, was 8-2 with a 2.59 earned-run average last season and is inexpensive. He will make less than $400,000 this season and will be eligible for arbitration in a year.
Seo was 9-12 in 31 starts as a rookie in 2003 and 5-10 in 21 starts in 2004. He has spent time at triple-A Norfolk in four of the last five seasons.
"He's a no-frills guy, a determined type of guy," Colletti said. "He won't overpower you."
The price was steep. Sanchez, 26, finished last season as the Dodger closer, converting all eight of his save opportunities. He made 146 appearances the last two seasons, mostly in a set-up role, and last season had 71 strikeouts in 82 innings.
Dodger coaches last season discussed converting Sanchez to a starter, but Colletti said there was "a lot of indecision whether that would work out."
Schmoll, a submarine thrower, had a 5.01 ERA in 48 appearances as a rookie. The Dodgers also elected not to re-sign Giovanni Carrara, who made 72 appearances, meaning three relievers who totaled 199 appearances last season have left the staff.
"It was tough to trade" Sanchez and Schmoll, Colletti said. "Sanchez won't be easily replaced. But our need for a starting pitcher was greater than the need for a bullpen piece. I've got some young arms that will have an opportunity to pitch in the bullpen.
"A starting pitcher is the most valuable commodity out there. Seo was very successful last year."
Yhency Brazoban, Jonathan Broxton and Franquelis Osoria are the top right-handed candidates to set up closer Eric Gagne. Brazoban was uneven filling in for Gagne last season, and rookies Broxton and Osoria had moderate success during short stints with the Dodgers.
The Dodgers might sign free-agent Jim Brower, a veteran reliever who pitched for the San Francisco Giants during Colletti's tenure as assistant general manager.
The Dodgers also might use Edwin Jackson as a long reliever, Colletti said. Jackson was considered the team's top pitching prospect until last season when he struggled at triple-A and was 2-2 with a 6.28 ERA with the Dodgers.
