Dodgers have deals in place to acquire Mat Latos, Alex Wood, four other players

Mike Bolsinger awoke Wednesday as the Dodgers’ fourth starter. In the morning, reports trickled out about the Dodgers trading for Mat Latos of the Miami Marlins, which would have made Bolsinger the fifth starter.

In the evening, as Bolsinger took the mound, reports surfaced that the trade included three teams, with the Dodgers getting Alex Wood from the Atlanta Braves. That would make Bolsinger the odd man out of the rotation, and quite possibly bound for the minor leagues, and could trigger the arrival of David Price in Los Angeles.

If this was Bolsinger’s farewell, he will leave with a 2.83 earned-run average, lower than any Dodgers starter not named Clayton Kershaw or Zack Greinke. Yasiel Puig homered, singled and drove in three runs on his bobblehead night, powering the Dodgers to a 10-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

And then the Dodgers players went home to wait, to see just who would show up in their clubhouse for the next home game Friday, after a day and night of reports the Dodgers had a two-team trade done, a two-team trade collapsing, and a three-team trade all but about done.

“It’s kind of weird,” pitcher Brett Anderson said. “You don’t really know who’s going to be your teammate, or not be your teammate.”

Anderson nodded toward the clubhouse television screen, where “Deal or No Deal” appeared to be the theme on MLB Network.

“Not too many times do you see the words ‘mass confusion’ with a trade,” Anderson said.

Nonetheless, the Dodgers were closing in late Wednesday on a three-team trade that would fill their starting rotation without depriving them of any key prospects that could be used to acquire a third ace in Price.

The trade had not been confirmed or announced by the time the Dodgers’ game ended Wednesday night. However, the deal would bring Latos and Wood, relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan, first baseman-outfielder Michael Morse and infield prospect Jose Peraza to Los Angeles, according to reports. The Dodgers do not appear to have any need for Morse, but their willingness to pay the remaining $14 million on his contract all but secured Latos.

The Dodgers would send Cuban infielder Hector Olivera, signed this spring in a $62.5-million deal, to the Braves and three non-elite minor league pitchers to the thrifty Marlins.

If the deal is completed, the Dodgers would pay seven players — Olivera, Matt Kemp, Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Brian Wilson, Brandon League and Ryan Webb — $80 million not to play for them. The Tampa Bay Rays had an opening-day payroll of $76 million this season.

Friedman left the Rays last fall to become the Dodgers’ president of baseball operations.

Latos and Wood could fill the final two spots in the rotation beyond Kershaw, Greinke, and Anderson.

Latos, 27, was 4-7 with a 4.48 earned-run average for the Marlins this year, but 3-3 with a 2.96 ERA since returning from the disabled list after a bout with an inflamed knee.

Wood, 24, is 7-6 with a 3.54 ERA for the Braves.

Peraza could replace Olivera in the Dodgers’ infield of the future. Peraza, a 21-year-old second baseman, is batting .295 with three home runs and 25 stolen bases for the Braves’ triple-A Gwinnett farm team.

The Detroit Tigers said Wednesday they would entertain offers for Price, whom the Dodgers long have coveted.

The Dodgers do not plan to trade either of their two very best prospects, infielder Corey Seager and pitcher Julio Urias, but should have enough of an inventory to acquire Price, who is three months from free agency. The Dodgers also could include Wood and/or Peraza in a package for Price.

“I have faith in our front office,” Anderson said. “The moves will be the right ones.

“It will be interesting to see how the next day or so plays out.”

Up next

The Dodgers are off Thursday. Kershaw (8-6, 2.51 ERA) wil face the Angels’ Hector Santiago (7-4, 2.43) on Friday at 7:10 p.m. at Dodger Stadium. TV: SportsNet LA. Radio: 570, 1020.