Say it ain’t so... ‘Chooch’ dealt to LA, now a Dodger Dog
PHILADELPHIA >> Carlos Ruiz wanted to be a Phillie for his entire career. He was almost successful.
Ruiz, 37, and in his 17th season in the Phillies’ organization, was traded Thursday to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In exchange for the backup catcher, the Phillies acquired veteran catcher A.J. Ellis, Class A minor-league righthanded pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named later. The Phils also gave Los Angeles cash considerations.
Bergjans is a product of Haverford College.
Ruiz was one of the Phillies’ two remaining members of their 2008 team. Ryan Howard, then, is the only Phillie left from that world championship club.
“I have talked to my family about my future,” Ruiz said, before the July 31 trade deadline. “I feel capable of doing what I have shown and what I know how to do. I still think I can give a lot to any team that may be interested in me.”
Though the trade deadline had passed, Ruiz had cleared waivers, thus making him available for trade. Howard is also available. Teams interested in acquiring veterans in such a waiver deal prefer to do so before Sept. 1, thus making those players available to play for them in the postseason.
“Once Carlos cleared trade waivers last week, we started thinking about it,” general manager Matt Klentak said. “The Dodgers expressed some interest. Pete (Mackanin) and I talked to Carlos over the weekend. We discussed whether he wanted to finish the year with us or get the chance to chase another championship ring.
“Ultimately this was about doing the right thing for Carlos Ruiz because he has meant so much to this organization.”
Ellis, 35, was hitting .194 with one home run in 53 games. The ninth-year veteran has a career average of .237 with 36 home runs.
Bergjans, 23, has been a starter for the Dodgers’ farm team in Rancho Cucamonga. Though 3-13, he had struck out 133 hitters in 130 innings while walking just 29. He was the Dodgers’ eighthround draft selection out of Haverford in June, 2015.
“Tommy was an excellent college performer,” Klentak said. “He has controlled the strike zone well in a tough league. We’re always looking to add starting pitching and we had a chance to do it. He strikes out better than a batter an inning and limits walks which was appealing.”
Beaten out of a starting job by Cameron Rupp, Ruiz hit .261 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 48 games with the Phils this season. In his 11 major-league seasons, he has hit .266 with 68 home runs.
Ruiz caught four no-hitters, including a perfect game and a postseason no-hitter by Roy Halladay in 2010. Last season, he caught a Cole Hamels no-hitter. A year earlier, he caught the combined no-hitter of Hamels, Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon.
The photograph of his celebration at the mound with a kneeling Brad Lidge following the Phillies’ 2008 championship is iconic.
“Obviously, I want to finish my career as a Phillie,” Ruiz said in July. “I want to win more championships with the Philadelphia Phillies. That’s the ideal world. If it doesn’t happen, and I know it’s a possibility, it’s a difficult time for me. I’m aware of it. I know some teams want me. But obviously as a player and as a Phillie I want to stay here.”
Ruiz was an All-Star in 2011 when he hit .325 with 16 home runs and 68 RBIs. Fellow 2008 legends Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley also went from the Phillies to the Dodgers.
According to Los Angeles Times reporting, Ellis told teammates he was “absolutely devastated” by the trade. Klentak said Ellis was acquired because the Phillies needed an immediate replacement for Ruiz. The general manager also acknowledged that a young catching prospect could join the Phils in September. The candidates would be Andrew Knapp, who plays for Class AAA Lehigh Valley, and Jorge Alfaro of Class AA Reading.
“This deal was not motivated by cash,” Klentak said. “It was about doing the right thing for Carlos, giving him the chance to get another ring.”
Though that was not Ruiz’s preference, he was prepared for the possibility.
“If there’s a team out there that wants me,” Ruiz said, “I’ll be ready for it.”
*** The Phillies were off Thursday and will visit the New York Mets Friday at 7:10 p.m. Adam Morgan (1-7, 6.21 ERA) will face right-hander Bartolo Colon (11-7, 3.36).