Matt Beaty’s retirement announcement brought an old Padres transaction back into focus, because one of the Dodgers’ sharpest front-office wins started with San Diego sending him to Los Angeles in March 2022.
That deal sent Beaty to the Dodgers for River Ryan, who at the time was still just a name on paper to most people in the Padres system. Ryan had been an 11th-round pick in 2021, had not yet made his professional debut, and was unranked in San Diego’s pipeline when the move happened.
Once he got to the Dodgers, though, he turned into a real piece. In 2022, he threw 47⅔ innings between Single- and High-A and put up a 2.45 ERA.
By the end of 2023, he had climbed all the way into the top 15 prospects in the Dodgers organization.
Beaty’s side of the trade went the other way. His 2022 season with the Padres was the worst of his career, as he hit .093 with a .333 OPS in 20 games.
He last appeared in an MLB organization in 2024, when he was on a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks before being released at the end of that season. He later announced his retirement in a lengthy Instagram post.
Ryan’s path has since become part of a much bigger story. This year, he was one of the three pieces the Dodgers used in their trade for Tarik Skubal with the Detroit Tigers.
The move could end up looking like another heist for Los Angeles, especially since reporting indicated the Tigers were set on getting a package specifically from the Dodgers. What they received was a pitcher with promise but plenty of injury issues, one of LA’s more movable top outfield prospects, and a lottery ticket.
Ryan was on the injured list with a hamstring strain when he was traded to Detroit, and he still has not started a rehab assignment. If the Tigers were hoping he could get into their rotation in September and help keep their Wild Card hopes alive, those expectations may have to come down.
Skubal has not quite looked as advertised since arriving from the Tigers, but he has drawn strong reviews from teammates and Dave Roberts and has continued to get better with each start. The Dodgers, as expected, are still seen as the favorite to sign him in free agency.
And all of it traces back to a Padres trade that now looks even worse in hindsight.
In Other News...
New Padres Owner Just Added Heat To The Dodgers Rivalry
The Padres officially ushered in a new ownership era this week, introducing Jos E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones, as the franchises new controlling owners. The pair take over after the death of Peter Seidler, and the sale came with a staggering $3.9 billion price tag, a reminder of how high the stakes have gotten in a division where the Dodgers and Padres have turned every season into a measuring stick.
Feliciano said he wants to build on Seidlers legacy and bring a championship to San Diego, but he also made clear he understands what comes with owning a club that shares a rivalry with the Dodgers. He even noted his connection to Dodgers owner Mark Walter, which only adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with tension, ambition and the kind of big-money ownership battle that now shadows the on-field one. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Watched A Proven Bat Land With Another Contender
Luis Robert Jr.s name moved quickly through the waiver wire this week, and the end result sent him to Baltimore after the Orioles stepped in to claim him from the Mets. For a Dodgers club always keeping an eye on useful bats, it was a notable pass, because Robert was available to be claimed and Los Angeles chose not to take the shot.
The decision fits the reality of Roberts season, which has been shaped by health issues and uneven availability even as his offensive upside remains the kind of thing contenders monitor closely. Baltimore gets the chance to see whether there is impact still to unlock, while the Dodgers are left to watch another proven bat land with a rival and wonder whether the risk was simply too steep for where they are right now. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Finally Have The Left-Handed Spark Their Lineup Needs
With September call-ups approaching, the Dodgers are weighing a few roster tweaks that could help them sharpen the lineup for the stretch run. One clear priority has emerged: adding a left-handed bat, something manager Dave Roberts has acknowledged as part of the teams late-season thinking. Along with the possibility of activating catcher Will Smith from injury, Los Angeles is looking at its Triple-A options with an eye toward fit as much as familiarity.
James Tibbs III has put himself in the conversation after a strong run at Triple-A, making him a compelling candidate if the Dodgers decide they want another left-handed spark. He is not the only one in the mix, either, since other left-handed hitters at Oklahoma City with major league experience could also factor into the final weeks. For a club trying to line up the right pieces before October, the question is less about whether reinforcements are coming and more about which lefty gets the call. [Read more 🡒]