January 12th, 2023 at 8:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka It was a play that not only saved Clayton Kershaw‘s no-hitter on June 18, 2014, but also endeared him with the entire City of Los Angeles and every Dodgers fan on the planet.
I am, of course, speaking of (now) 33-year-old utility infielder Miguel Rojas who, on that fateful day, was the Dodgers spry (then) 26-year-old third baseman playing in only his 12th Major League game.
The play occurred in the top of the seventh inning when Colorado Rockies shortstop (and future Hall of Famer) Troy Tulowitzki hit a two-hop chopper down the third base line that easily could have been (and should have been) an infield single to end Kershaw’s bid for baseball immortality. But instead, Rojas immediately broke to his right and not only somehow got to the ball, but also somehow managed to get off a throw – from foul territory – to Dodgers first baseman Adrián González, who caught the ball on one hop just ahead of Tulo stepping on the first base bag for the second out of the inning.
“Miggy made a great play,” Kershaw told reporters after his historic 8-0 no-hitter of the Rockies. “He has great hands and once he caught it, then Gonzo picking it up on the other end, obviously it was a big play for us. I thought it was foul. Miggy stayed with it the whole way. He made a really great play, so that was definitely huge for me.”
But as so often happens in our beloved national pastime, Rojas was part of a major trade with the Miami Marlins on December 11, 2014 (along with Dee Gordon, Dan Haren, and cash) in the deal that brought Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney and Kiké Hernández to the Dodgers, and just like that, the city’s love affair with Rojas was over.
…until Wednesday evening.
Shortly after 6 p.m. the Dodgers posted this on Twitter:
The caveat to this is that “minor league IF Jacob Amaya“ thing. He is (was) the Dodgers 15th-ranked prospect and an MiLB.com Organizational All-Star for the Dodgers in 2022. The El Monte, CA native and Dodgers 11th-round draft pick in 2017 out of South Hills High School in West Covina, CA slugged 17 home runs and had 71 RBI in 133 games played between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City this past season.
He is also 24 years old, whereas Rojas is now 33 years old.
Play Ball!
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Posted in 
Very odd move. Like Rojas, he’s a solid performer, can be clutch, but we traded the best SS prospect in the organization.
Spot on!
and jumped the tax barrier. has AF bumped his head?
I’m not the least bit happy with the trade, but “It’s still early,” as they say.
Seems like a lot to pay for one year of Rojas. Could have just signed Jose Iglesias and kept Amaya to include in another trade package for an impact player.
More moves must be on the way. Trade Muncy and/or Taylor?
Rojas is an excellent fielder and will add stability to an infield that will be going through a lot of change. Vargas, Busch in the infield and hopefully Outlaw and Pages are a lot of new players to absorb, someone with experience and plays real good defense is a great addition!
No doubt Rojas is a tremendous fielding shortstop, but his lack of offense will have to be made up somewhere in the lineup. And, he had right wrist surgery in October and is scheduled to have another procedure on the same wrist shortly — who knows when he will be 100%. While Hanser Alberto is not quite up to Rojas fielding standards, he is well above average and their offense is about the same – plus Alberto was a terrific guy on the bench and clubhouse. The difference, Rojas will cost the Dodgers $5M, Alberto would have played for the minimum – roughly $4M difference. For me, I am surprised that Alberto was not re-signed.
JP I was going to post the exact same thing you just posted.
Is it Rojas and Trayce Thompson to Boston for Kiki?
Had not thought of that — what a terrific idea!
Might have to throw in a pitcher like Justin Bruihl or Phil Bickford, but that would be a good trade for both teams.
I read that the Red Sox were in on Rojas.
So I was thinking we overpayed I was thinking a flip would benefit both teams.
Would allow us to use Lux CT3 and Kiki at SS plus Kiki ct3 Outman and Vargas could play outfield.
Caveat? Rojas claims he injured his wrist sliding into a base in July and that’s why his offense suffered.
Well, there are six other seasons with below average offense — LOL
He hurt his wrist all of those seasons as well