Daily Dodger in Review: Josh Lindblom’s potential heads elsewhere

JOSH LINDBLOM, 25, relief pitcher

Final 2012 stats: 3-5, 3.55 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, one save in four opportunities, .232 opponents batting average, 8.9 strikeouts per inning pitches in 74 games.

Contract status: Under Phillies team control.

The good: He was 2-2 with a 3.05 ERA with the Dodgers before they dealt him to the Phillies at the trading deadline. Looked like he was becoming comfortable in a relief role, after mostly being used as a starter in the minors. As a Phillie, upped the strikeouts-to-innings-pitched ratio from 8.1 with the Dodgers to 10.4.

The bad: The Phillies were hoping Lindblom could become their set-up man, but in 26 games with Philadelphia had a 4.63 ERA and his WHIP jumped from 1.26 with the Dodgers to 1.54 with the Phillies (walked 17 in 23 1/3 innings).

What’s next: The Phillies’ bullpen is something of a mess and he is one of several young arms they will look at in the spring for the 2013 bullpen, though nothing is assured. Probably helped his cause by finishing well (2.84 ERA in his last 14 games).

The take: This was not someone the Dodgers wanted to part with. They liked his arm and potential, and he was well-regarded in the clubhouse. But they sent him and prospect Ethan Martin to the Phillies for three months of outfielder Shane Victorino in a failed bid to make the playoffs. Now Victorino will unlikely be re-signed.

His best success always came at pitching-friendly Dodger Stadium (1.35 career ERA), but he ultimately figures to translate that elsewhere. He had established a foundation in Los Angeles and was particularly close to Clayton Kershaw and no doubt was hoping to spend his career as a Dodger.

Yet even if Lindblom should continue to develop, you can’t fault the Dodgers for trying to cash in on their hot start and advance to the postseason. They were trying to be aggressive, add a missing piece and deal from an area of relative strength.

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