Dodgers land Ruiz
Catcher’s résumé includes stellar postseason play
The National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Carlos Ruiz from the Philadelphia Phillies in a trade of backup catchers Thursday, getting a popular player with a world of postseason experience.
The Phillies also sent $1 million to the Dodgers for A.J. Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named or cash.
Ruiz, 37, was hitting .261 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 48 games, playing behind Cameron Rupp. Ruiz has played well lately, batting .340 (16-for-47) since the All-Star break.
Ruiz was an All-Star in 2012, and Phillies fans loved to call out his nickname — Chooch — when he delivered big hits. He got many of them for Philadelphia, batting .353 with two homers and five RBI in 11 World Series games.
Overall, Ruiz played 46 postseason games with the Phillies and helped them win five NL East crowns. Those titles came alongside former Philadelphia star Chase Utley, and this trade reunites them on the Dodgers.
The trade also leaves aging slugger Ryan Howard as the lone holdover in Philadelphia from the team that won the 2008 World Series.
Ellis hit .194 with one homer and 13 RBI this season as a backup to Yasmani Grandal.
Ellis, 35, often caught Clayton Kershaw and was one of the three-time Cy Young Award winner’s best friends. Kershaw recently said the clubhouse chemistry on the Dodgers was the best he had seen on any of his teams.
Like Ruiz, Ellis excelled in October. He is a career .365 hitter in 17 postseason games.
Bergjans was 3-13 with a 4.98 ERA at Class A Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.). The 23-year-old righty was an eighth-round draft pick in 2015 after playing for Haverford College in suburban Philadelphia.