Dodgers deal for Dozier as they power up for run at elusive championship
MINNEAPOLIS — Major League Baseball’s National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers kept revamping their infield, getting power-hitting second baseman Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins for infielder Logan Forsythe and two minor-leaguers shortly before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Dozier will join a Dodgers team that’s in a tight race with Arizona, aiming for a return trip to the World Series. The Dodgers went all in by acquiring Baltimore shortstop Manny Machado during the all-star break for five prospects.
Dozier was the fifth player traded by the Twins in the last five days. Signalling the front office’s shift in focus to the future amid a disappointing season, Dozier followed starting pitcher Lance Lynn, relief pitchers Zach Duke and Ryan Pressly and infielder Eduardo Escobar out the door. The Twins received a total of 12 players in return, with Forsythe the only current major-leaguer.
The Twins also got outfielder Luke Raley and left-hander Devin Smeltzer for Dozier.
Though the 31-year-old Dozier’s production has dropped off this year, he has 161 home runs in six seasons as a regular in the lineup.
Dozier is batting .224 with 16 home runs and 52 RBIs this season, with a .708 on-base-plus-slugging percentage that’s his lowest since his rookie year in 2012. Dozier, who is making US$9 million this year, will be a free agent in the fall.
The Dodgers pursued Dozier before the 2017 season but settled for Forsythe in a trade with Tampa Bay instead.
Forsythe hit only .218 with just eight home runs, 49 RBIs and a .639 OPS in 189 games with the Dodgers.