Los Angeles Dodgers Strengthen Offense and Pen, Trade for Brian Dozier, John Axford

Today the Dodgers traded for Twins 2B Brian Dozier and Jays RP John Axford.

The Dodgers have acquired Brian Dozier. This is a trade we all thought would happen at the beginning of 2017 but talks came to a halt and never resumed, until now it seems.

After their initial talks last offseason, the Dodgers pivoted to the Rays and traded for Logan Forsythe. Forsythe has played second and some third for Los Angeles over the past season and a half, but has been struggling offensively.

In 193 ABs this year, Forsythe has a negative WAR, along with a .207 average and just 13 RBIs. Quietly, however, Forsythe was good for the Dodgers. He had a few memorable walk-off hits last year and stood as a valuable veteran in the clubhouse, but they need more. They need a player with 15+ home runs, and over 400 ABs on the season. They’ve got that in Dozier now.

In return for Dozier, they are sending OF Luke Raley and LHP Devin Smeltzer, along with Forsythe. Both prospects were on the Tulsa Drillers, the Dodgers’ AA-affiliate.

This is a great move for the Dodgers. They have an elite offense but seem to be slowing down as we move towards August. Dozier now stands as a consistent leadoff hitter for LA, and yet another experienced veteran at second.

This trade makes the Dodgers that much deeper. Now, instead of having Chase Utley and Kiké Hernandez splitting time in the middle infield, Brian Dozier will be an everyday starter and will likely come off the bench when Dave Roberts decides to start Utley.

Offensive production, however, isn’t the Dodgers kryptonite at the moment, it’s the pitching. Clayton Kershaw is finally starting to look like Clayton Kershaw again, and Rich Hill is as determined as ever. The bullpen is good, but not great, and with the postseason on the horizon, the Dodgers had to add on.

In response to the Dodgers’ clear bullpen needs, the answer seems to be John Axford of the Bue Jays. Axford made his debut with the Brewers in 2009, at age 26. Since then, he’s pitched for the A’s, the Rockies, the Pirates, the Cardinals, the Indians and the Blue Jays.

And now, the Dodgers.

Los Angeles been linked to big names ever since trade news began earlier this season. Those names include Chris Archer, now a Pirate, Kyle Barraclough, still a Marlin, and of course, Manny Machado, who now dons Dodger Blue.

I think the Dodgers did exactly what they needed to today. Last season everyone said they won the deadline because they traded for Yu Darvish, but they went on to lose the World Series. Now, they’ve traded for two players who greatly excel at what they do, and that’s enough for LA. They didn’t need Bryce Harper or Chris Archer.

They just needed to add to the growing success created by their current squad. That’s exactly what they did.