Dodgers acquire Logan Forsythe from Tampa Bay
By Pamela Rios
Los Angeles made sure to address their infield needs with their recent trade with the Rays.
The Los Angeles Dodgers made their long-anticipated trade for a second baseman on Monday, acquiring Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays.
In return, LA parted ways with top pitching prospect Jose De Leon.
The 24-year-old De Leon saw his big league debut in 2016, posting a 6.35 ERA and 2-0 record in 4 games started with the Dodgers.
Despite his two final difficult starts of the season, his impressive stint in Triple-A made many scouts project the right-hander as a potential middle-rotation pitcher.
De Leon was ranked the #8 pitching prospect and #33 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com.
Though trading away a prospect of De Leon’s talent is not easy, the Dodgers have more than enough budding pitchers in its farm system to compensate.
BREAKING: Los Angeles has acquired 2B Logan Forsythe from Tampa Bay for P Jose De Leon, per @TBTimes_Rays.
— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 23, 2017
Prior to the trade, the Dodgers were rumored to be heavily interested in Minnesota Twins’ second baseman Brian Dozier.
However, talks apparently reached an impasse after the Dodgers and Twins failed to agree on the trade’s secondary pieces.
Forsthye’s acquisition fills perhaps the Dodgers’ biggest hole in its roster, in regards to both second base and right-handed power.
Last year, the team’s inability to hit left-handed pitchers proved detrimental to its success in the postseason.
The 30-year-old Forsythe posted a solid .270 BA against lefties and a .264 overall average. He also put up 20 HRs and 52 RBIs with 6 stolen bases.
Per MLB Network’s Ken Rosenthal, Forsythe is under contract for $5.75M this year before he is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
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The Dodgers, however, have an $8.5M club option in 2018 for the second baseman.