MLB News: Los Angeles Dodgers Designate Mat Latos For Assignment

The Los Angeles Dodgers have designated right-handed pitcher Mat Latos for assignment, as first reported by Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports.

Sources: Dodgers have designated Mat Latos for assignment.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 18, 2015

Taking Latos’ spot on the 40-man roster is the returning Carlos Frias, a relief pitcher who spent a large chunk of 2015 on the 60-day disabled list, the Dodgers confirmed.

The Dodgers have reinstated Carlos Frias from the 60-day disabled list and designated Mat Latos for assignment.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 18, 2015

Latos, 27, came over to the Dodgers in a huge, 13-player trade just prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Along with fellow pitchers Alex Wood, Jim Johnson, and Luis Avilan, Latos was expected to help a Dodgers pitching staff decimated by injury and inconsistency.

At one point, Latos was one of the National League’s most reliable starters, but he has since experienced injuries and inconsistencies of his own. However, his performances with the Miami Marlins just prior to being dealt were promising.

In 16 starts for the Marlins, Latos accumulated a record of 4-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 88-and-one-third innings. However, those numbers look like Cy Young worthy stats when compared to his stint with the Dodgers.

Through six games (five starts) in Los Angeles, Latos pitched to a 0-3 record, posting an abysmal 6.66 ERA in 24-and-one-third innings.

It’s possible that a team in need of some pitching depth might pick up Latos to help them in last three weeks of the season, but that does not appear likely. This is mostly due to the fact that Latos has struggled mightily and would not be eligible for the postseason roster.

Therefore, if Latos’ 2015 season is done, he will finish with a combined 4-10 record and 4.95 ERA through 112-and-one-third innings. Certainly not the numbers Latos was hoping to finish with as he heads into free agency at the end of the year.

Considering Latos’ age and prior track record, he will still likely get an extended look from teams in free agency. From 2010-2013, Latos averaged nearly 13 wins, 200 innings, and a 3.25 ERA. He finished in the top 10 for the NL Cy Young in 2010.

Also, while Latos does not throw as hard as he did in 2010, FanGraphs still has Latos averaging 91.4 mph on his fastball in 2015.

For his career, Latos owns a 64-55 record with a 3.51 ERA in 1,064-and-two-thirds innings between the San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds, Marlins, and Dodgers.

As for Frias, the 25-year-old pitched in 14 games (12 starts) for the Dodgers earlier this year before suffering a back injury. During those 14 appearances, Frias pitched to a 5-5 record with a 4.39 ERA in 69-and-two-thirds innings. If he can pitch well for the remainder of the year, he could find himself on the Dodgers postseason roster.

[Image by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images]