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Los Angeles Dodgers acquire 2B Logan Forsythe from Tampa Bay Rays for RHP Jose De Leon
LOS ANGELES -- In the hunt for a second baseman and a leadoff man, the Dodgers found both in Logan Forsythe, whom they acquired Monday from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for highly regarded pitching prospect Jose De Leon.
Forsythe will be counted on to help the Dodgers overcome their deficiencies against left-handed pitching, an issue that reached historic proportions in 2016. The Dodgers were not only last in baseball this past season in on-base percentage (.290) and OPS (.622), their .213 batting average against lefties was the worst of any playoff team in the past 100 years.
Forsythe had a .333 OBP against lefties last season and a .359 mark in 2015. Of the six Dodgers players who had at least 100 at-bats against left-handers last season, only one had a better OPB than .313, and that was Howie Kendrick (.333), who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.
Forsythe, 30, was a former first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2008. He is a career .255 hitter, with a .328 OPB. He has 55 career home runs, including a career-best 20 last season for the Rays.
The Dodgers started last season without a true leadoff man, but Chase Utley adapted to the role admirably. Forsythe's most games at any lineup spot are his 150 as a leadoff man, with the fifth spot next at 86 games.
The 24-year-old De Leon, a right-hander, made his major league debut in 2016, going 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts (17 innings). He entered the season as the Dodgers' No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts at the Triple-A level last season.
Forsythe will be counted on to help the Dodgers overcome their deficiencies against left-handed pitching, an issue that reached historic proportions in 2016. The Dodgers were not only last in baseball this past season in on-base percentage (.290) and OPS (.622), their .213 batting average against lefties was the worst of any playoff team in the past 100 years.
Forsythe had a .333 OBP against lefties last season and a .359 mark in 2015. Of the six Dodgers players who had at least 100 at-bats against left-handers last season, only one had a better OPB than .313, and that was Howie Kendrick (.333), who was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies this winter.
Forsythe, 30, was a former first-round pick of the San Diego Padres in 2008. He is a career .255 hitter, with a .328 OPB. He has 55 career home runs, including a career-best 20 last season for the Rays.
The Dodgers started last season without a true leadoff man, but Chase Utley adapted to the role admirably. Forsythe's most games at any lineup spot are his 150 as a leadoff man, with the fifth spot next at 86 games.
The 24-year-old De Leon, a right-hander, made his major league debut in 2016, going 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts (17 innings). He entered the season as the Dodgers' No. 3 prospect, according to Baseball America. He went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts at the Triple-A level last season.