The Dodgers and Red Sox are engaged in trade talks regarding outfielder Alejandro De Aza, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports (Twitter links). Boston acquired De Aza from the Orioles in early June.
Per the report, the Dodgers are considering De Aza as an alternative acquisition target to Chase Utley. While the two obviously don’t play the same position, Rosenthal suggests that adding De Aza would allow Los Angeles to continue deploying Kike Hernandez at second base in place of the injured Howie Kendrick.
In spite of that explanation, it seems a curious fit unless another move is also being contemplated. De Aza hits from the left side, and the Dodgers already have three left-handed-hitting outfielders in Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford, and Joc Pederson. And it’s not as if the 31-year-old De Aza posts reverse platoon splits; to the contrary, he’s been far more productive against right-handed pitching this season and over his career. (The same holds true of the team’s incumbent options.)
De Aza does have some extra flexibility given his extensive (though somewhat outdated) experience in center field. But the same can be said to greater or lesser extent of the three players just mentioned — including, of course, the team’s current up-the-middle defender, Pederson.
The major difference between De Aza and the in-house veterans lies in the contractual realm. Boston only took on $1MM of his salary in acquiring him from the Orioles, and he’ll hit free agency after the season, so he’s a cheap rental piece at this point. Ethier ($38MM over two seasons) and Crawford ($41.75MM over two seasons) come with significant guarantees after the current year, though both have been rather productive at the plate. It’s conceivable, at least, that Los Angeles would have interest in an immediate replacement for either player if they found a trade partner willing to take on a piece of the future obligations.
While he’s best as a platoon player or fourth outfielder, De Aza is a useful piece — he’s slashed .313/.362/.520 since coming over to Boston. And it’s fairly clear that he holds more function to a team other than the cellar-dwelling Red Sox. But it’s also not immediately apparent that he makes a ton of sense for the Dodgers, as that team’s roster is currently structured.
Of course, being that it’s August, De Aza would need either to be claimed by the Dodgers or have already passed through revocable waivers to be dealt. It has not been reported whether or when De Aza was placed on waivers.
jbj and castillo need to both be getting regular ABs, so would make sense. was surprised de aza wasnt moved at the non-waiver deadline
As we speak, two bags of brand new bats are on their way to Boston.
2 bags?!
Brand new too, not the old used kind. The Dodgers are feeling generous.
Don’t forget a goodly supply of Gatorade and sunflower seeds.
I’m not sure but 2 bags of new bats, Gatorade and sunflower seeds may be an overpay for De Aza. You may also want to throw in Allen Craig
I think this would be a good trade for the Dodgers. Alejandro De Aza has been solid this season, and has hit well the past month. And since Joc has been in a slump these past two months, De Aza can fill in for Pederson when they sit him down or send him to the minors. But either Scott Van Slyke or Carl Crawford would be sent down or DFA’d to make some space if Joc isn’t sent down.
Not sure this makes a whole lot of sense. It assumes that the Dodgers would prefer De Aza as their everyday CF in the middle of a pennant race. For all of his offensive struggles, Pederson still plays strong defense. Crawford effectively can’t be DFA’d because he can refuse designation, and he’s also been swinging the bat well.
You never know. Joc is a rookie, and If he can’t hit good pitching in the regular season, I don’t know how he will do it in the pressure of post season ball. .182 average in the last 30 games. Aza has a glove on par with Pederson, and he has received praise for his glove as well. I think a more solid hitting veteran would be an upgrade from Joc unless he can get his head and swing together before the postseason. And because of Crawford’s fragile state the past few years, de Aza is a good backup of he goes down.
Looking at the calendar, you could be right. Give Joc a couple of weeks off in the minors then bring him back up Sept. 1. Stranger things have happened. The problems are: yet another LHB in the OF, and De Aza’s lack of recent work in CF. As for Crawford, I don’t see any pattern to his injuries that leads me to assume anything. For sure he can’t be DFA’d though.
There is absolutely no way on this earth that Scott Van Slyke or Carl Crawford is going to be sent to the minors.
That makes no sense.. De Aza has been solid in Boston but before that in Baltimore he was pretty awful with a .636 OPS equal to a OPS+ of 74.. Pederson is young and is currently just in a slump.. There is no way LA sends a player with 23 hrs and a OPS+ of 123 to the minors.. He is probably just wearing down and needs an extra day or 2 of rest.. To think Carl Crawford and his $21+ million dollar contract is going to be sent down or DFA’d is absurd and makes me question your knowledge of baseball.. De Aza has been ever so slightly better than Van Slyke on the year.. To think they would dump Van Slyke for pretty much the same player in De Aza also makes no sense.. The Dodgers picking up De Aza is probably just a depth move as insurance against injuries to Either and Crawford.. All 4 of them Pederson/Either/Crawford/Puig will probably need some additional rest for the stretch run and bringing in a hot bat like De Aza makes sense as well.. Imho the Dodgers probably have another trade worked out and will need De Aza to round out the roster like the author hinted at..
Lack of baseball knowledge…ok. If you are seeing the games, joc pederson is just lost. It seems he is always in a 0-2 or a 1-2 count, then strikes out. And I can’t remember the last time he scored after getting on from a walk. He has hit 2 home runs recently, but before that he didn’t hit one for almost 100 at bats. It seems like his stats only look “good” for a rookie because of the first 2 months he played. After that it went downhill. And I’m saying just send Joc down until September call ups so he can have some at bats at the AAA level for confidence and to get the swing back. Carl Crawford and SVS would only be sent down a few games, and would accept cause they know they will be back September.
Maybe Jose Tabata for Alejandro de Aza?
Another OF in L.A.? Do they hate Puig that much?
How is that your first thought when they are considering a LH bat? If anyone it means they hate Crawford but more than likely they want insurance for Pederson if he stays cold.
I’m guessing this is for Joc Pederson. We can’t have him striking out every at bat in the playoffs and his .220 AVG. So I’m thinking they get de Aza so that if Joc is struggling, they can send him down to the minors until September call ups to get his swing back. When Joc is gone it will still be solid with de Aza+Ethier+puig.
De Aza offers some depth and flexibility for an assumed low cost of acquisition. More depth once rosters expand is a nice luxury.
news flash front office…
you need bullpen help not another OF.
Seriously.
The Dodgers can pay $5m for Heisey and Barney as minor league depth defensive replacements.
Why is the team so terrified to spend a little inefficiently on a reliever?
Because Gm will have to admit to a Mistake by not getting enough Quality Relief Pitchers at Trading deadline !
It is almost impossible to get good bullpen upgrades this late in the season. Most of the best options will get claimed on waivers, leaving the reclamation projects and overpaid under-performers as the options available. There isn’t a whole lot the Dodgers can do at this point. I’m actually kinda surprised De Aza cleared waivers.
Utley or de Aza for the pennant race?
Alright.
I’m a Dodger fan why?
Well De Aza has a bit of speed, which any Red Sox fan will attest can be crucial in a pennant race or playoff game, and he has been swinging a hot stick in Boston. He could make sense as a bench piece in September.
Chase Utley makes sense for the Dodgers, the other Guy not so sure !
Put it this way: if the Dodgers trade for Utley it means we’ve probably seen the last of Kendrick.
Hey, I am still a fan of De Aza
I though the Orioles gave up on him way too soon.
I guess the Dodgers feel they don’t have enough Outfielders and always want more.
This makes no sense. I remember saying this 8 months ago when they got Chris Heisey. That sure worked out well.
If the Guggenheim Dodgers can throw money at an over-the-hill veteran that is accelerating his decline, they can’t get him fast enough.
Mattingly is taking a lot of bad shots. He has done an amazing job with a team of players that don’t fit, and quite a few that are problems. Don would be better off leaving at the end of the season and finding an organization that doesn’t turn over its roster even more then the Red Sox do. The Nationals liked Mattingly a few years ago but he wasn’t available. He would be a nice upgrade from Matt Williams.
I agree , Both Donnie Boy and Williams are Miscasts with their present Teams.
Donnie B. has done better than I expected. He’s no Bobby Cox, but he at least isn’t Matt Williams.
Send Joc down to minors to shorten his swing, He make Bobby Bonds look like a contact Hitter.
De Aza for a partially subsidized Ethier; or even better, De Aza and a subsidized Sandoval (or Hanley?) for Ethier?
Nice, you have the Dodgers downgrading at two positions.