Dodgers deal for Granderson
L.A. adds veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson, and puts pressure on Joc Pederson.
DETROIT — Already charging toward a franchise record for victories, the Dodgers continue to tweak and improve their roster. The latest addition is outfielder Curtis Granderson, who was acquired from the New York Mets on Friday in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.
Granderson, 36, has hit 19 home runs with an .815 onbase-plus-slugging percentage this season. He has played all three outfield positions, though he primarily handles the corners.
Granderson is a left-handed batter and could add pressure to slumping center fielder Joc Pederson, who went one for three with a double in Friday’s 8-5 victory over Detroit, but has struggled for most of the second half. He displayed a revamped swing Friday.
Granderson also could help off the bench. Andre Ethier, another veteran lefthanded hitter, is expected to rejoin the team in September. But Ethier has missed most of the past two seasons because of injuries.
Next Japanese star?
A couple weeks after acquiring Yu Darvish, the Dodgers sent a sizable contingent of executives, including president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and former ace Orel Hershiser to Japan to see the country’s newest phenom: 23-year-old pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani recorded a pair of hits as the designated hitter for the Hokkaido NipponHam Fighters, Darvish’s former club, in the game witnessed by the Dodgers officials. The group also included director of player personnel Galen Carr. Sports Nippon reported that the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates also had scouts in attendance.
It is unclear whether Ohtani might come to Major League Baseball; if he does, he may not become available until after next season.
Ohtani entered Friday hitting .322 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 36 games this year. He was 10-4 with a 1.86 ERA last year but has pitched in only one game in 2017 after suffering a hamstring injury; however he is believed to have more potential as a pitcher than as a hitter.
The Dodgers won the last bidding contest for a Japanese star, signing Kenta Maeda to an eight-year, $24million contract in the winter before 2016. The Dodgers have not tipped their hand about whether they will try to keep Darvish, a free agent.
Kershaw’s progress
Clayton Kershaw (back strain) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session before Friday’s game. He is scheduled to appear in a simulated outing next week in Pittsburgh.
“Very good execution,” manager Dave Roberts said. “If you hadn’t known any better, it would have looked like just a typical Clayton Kershaw side session in the regular season between starts.”
Darvish goes house-hunting
Darvish did not travel with the team to Detroit on Thursday; the organization gave him an extra day to find a residence in Los Angeles. Roberts expected Darvish to meet the team later on Friday night.
Asked for the advice he gave Darvish on househunting, Roberts chuckled.
“I just said, ‘Be mindful of the traffic,’ ” Roberts said. “‘Get that reverse commute.’ Whether he took heed or not, I’m not sure.”
Seager plays designated hitter
Corey Seager wore a compression sleeve on his right arm during a pregame workout, did not take batting practice and did not play the field on Friday. Seager said there was no issue with his arm. He had agreed to work on his throwing mechanics with team officials before the game.
Roberts used him as the designated hitter and Seager went one for four with a two-run single and a sacrifice fly.
“Corey is fine,” Roberts said. “To give Corey a day off his feet, [after] a day off, is a good thing.”