Daily Dodger in Review: Will Rubby De La Rosa come back to haunt?

RUBBY DE LA ROSA, 23, starting pitcher

Final 2012 stats: Pitched in just two-thirds of an inning.

Contract status: Under Boston Red Sox control.

The good: He made it back to the majors one year after having Tommy John surgery, even if his brief appearance later smacked of a showcase preceding his participation in the blockbuster trade with the Red Sox. Did not yet return to his previous 100 mph form, but did hit 96.

The bad: Well, he’s gone. That’s the rub. He was probably the key player leaving the Dodgers of the five they sent to the Red Sox.

What’s next: Very likely a spot in the Boston rotation. He was claimed on waivers – along with Jerry Sands – when the Dodgers tried to pass him through before the Aug. 25 trade, so the deal could not be completed until after the regular season was completed.

After the trade agreement, the Dodgers shut him down rather than risk further injury to his reconstructed elbow. Appeared in six minor league games, going 1-0 with a 2.08 earned-run average, with four walks, eight hits and 12 strikeouts in 13 innings.

The take: This is the one player the Dodgers did not want to part with, but had to be key for the Red Sox.

The Dodgers’ minor league player of the year in 2010, De La Rosa reeked of exciting potential. In 13 appearances in 2011 before injuring his elbow, he did little to dissuade thought of a long and thrilling future.

But the Red Sox were not going to make the deal simply to unload all that salary. They needed something significant to show for it in return, so the Dodgers swallowed hard and included him with James Loney and prospects Allen Webster, Ivan De Jesus and Sands.

If the Dodgers look back in 10 years and regret the trade, it will probably be because De La Rosa developed into an ace.

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