The Los Angeles Dodgers made another trade just before the deadline to bring in second baseman Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins have had Dozier on the trading block for the last couple of trade deadlines and finally pulled the trigger on a deal for minor leaguers Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer along with MLB infielder Logan Forsythe.
Forsythe, the MLB player, is having a dreadful season, to put it nicely. He had nice back-to-back campaigns with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015 and 2016, accumulating fWARs of 4.0 and 2.7, respectively. He had an okay year with the Dodgers last year, and then this year’s slash line of .207/.270/.290 (55 wRC+) and a -0.6 fWAR are indicative that it is just time to cut ties and move on. That’s what the Dodgers did by flipping him with prospects for Dozier.
Dozier’s contract will expire at the end of this year, so the Twins, who are in the midst of a disappointing season, were kind of forced to move on and get any package they could for the 31-year-old before they likely lost him for nothing in return this winter.
Dozier is having a relatively down year, but has had a better July and his numbers are serviceable overall, slashing .224/.305/.402 (91 wRC+) and 16 home runs from the second base position. He can fit in just fine as a bottom of the order presence for LA.
The Dodgers are now very much stacked all over the field. They already had a crowded outfield with Cody Bellinger playing there most of the time upon the emergence of Max Muncy this season.
The Dodgers obviously also acquired Manny Machado from the Orioles over the all-star break, and, while he wants to primarily play shortstop, he is playing some third base for them right now with Justin Turner on the disabled list.
Chris Taylor will remain the shortstop for the time being until Turner returns. Upon Turner’s reinstatement from the DL, I assume Machado will move back to shortstop and Taylor will serve as the super-utility player, backing up at all three non-first base positions and the corner outfield spots in a pinch, but maybe it can be a platoon-type situation with Dozier.
Chase Utley will be even more of a reserve than he was already, but he is retiring at the end of this year anyway.
This move makes the Dodgers much more legitimate World Series contenders, in my eyes. I would say they are now the favorite over the Cubs to come out of the National League, and with their newfound depth, they are even more equipped to take on whoever comes out of the American League, since they will be playing a very capable player at DH, whether that is Bellinger, Muncy, Machado, Turner, or Dozier.
The Dozier move may not be the flashiest, and he is having a down season overall and is over 30, but they are now ready to really compete for the World Series title and avenge last year’s loss.
Featured Image via Flickr/Keith Allison
