3:52pm: The teams have announced the trade. Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN tweets that, for now, the sense is that the Twins will hang onto Forsythe. It’s possible, perhaps, that Minnesota will be able to find a taker for a portion of his contract in August if he performs well, though as a free agent at season’s end, Forsythe presumably isn’t viewed as any sort of long-term piece.
2:28pm: The two sides have a deal in place, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (on Twitter). Dozier is headed to Los Angeles. Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that Minnesota will take on Logan Forsythe’s contract in the deal and will also receive prospects Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer in the swap.
2:23pm: The Dodgers and Twins are nearing a trade that’d send Brian Dozier from Minnesota to Los Angeles, according to Ken Rosenthal and Dan Hayes of The Athletic (Twitter link).
The trade of Dozier brings to an end the tenure of one of the best players in recent Twins history and also at last pairs Dozier with the Dodgers, who invested a significant amount of time in trying to acquire him in the 2016-17 offseason. While Dozier isn’t having nearly the season that he had in his best two years with the Twins, the 31-year-old is at least showing some power, with a .224/.305/.402 slash and 16 homers on the season.
Of course, at his best, Dozier was quite arguably among the top second basemen in the game, hitting .269/.349/.522 with 76 home runs, 65 doubles and nine triples in 1396 plate appearances with Minnesota from 2016-17. That hasn’t been the case in 2018, clearly, but the Dodgers will hope for a return to form. Furthermore, given his status as a rental player, the cost of acquisition paid by the Dodgers wasn’t overly steep.
What remains to be seen is precisely how Dozier will be shoehorned into an already tight L.A. infield mix. The Dodgers currently have Justin Turner on the disabled list, which alleviates the logjam a bit, but they’ll soon have an infield with Turner at third, Manny Machado at shortstop, Max Muncy at second base and Cody Bellinger at first base. Bellinger, of course, can play in the outfield, as can current shortstop Chris Taylor (who’ll slide back into a utility role once Turner is back).
Then again, the Dodgers have never fretted much over regular positions and/or playing time for most players under current management. Rather, harvesting incredible amounts of depth has become a hallmark of this front office, and today’s addition of Dozier only furthers that reputation. Skipper Dave Roberts will be able to mix and match his lineups with quite a bit of creativity — particularly if the Dodgers give Dozier occasional reps at third base or at the position he played upon breaking into the Majors: shortstop.
At the very least, Dozier will give the Dodgers a potent option against left-handed pitching — both down the stretch and in the playoffs. Through 1082 career plate appearances against lefties, Dozier has impressed with a .277/.356/.516 slash and 48 home runs. That’ll prove especially useful against the Rockies (Kyle Freeland, Tyler Anderson), Cubs (Jon Lester, Jose Quintana, Cole Hamels, Mike Montgomery) and Braves (Sean Newcomb, Max Fried) — each of whom is currently in the NL playoff picture.
Dozier is playing out the final season of a four-year, $20MM deal with the Twins and is earning $9MM in 2018. His salary, then, will be canceled out by that of Forsythe, who is also earning $9MM and may or may not ever suit up and play a game for the Twins down the stretch. The 31-year-old Forsythe has had a terrible season at the plate, hitting just .207/.270/.290 through 2011 plate appearances. Los Angeles had previously tried to unload him in other trade talks, and his inclusion in the deal is assuredly a means of keeping the Dodgers beneath the $197MM luxury tax threshold. It’s possible that the Twins will simply cut ties with Forsythe immediately and turn Dozier’s second base spot over to a younger option with more of a future with the team.
The 23-year-old Raley is the primary return for the Twins, ranking 19th among L.A. farmhands, per Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com. A seventh-round pick in the 2016 draft, Raley has steadily risen through the Dodgers’ ranks and hit well along the way, topping out in Double-A to this point in his career. Through 435 plate appearances at that level so far in 2018, he’s posted a .275/.345/.477 slash with 17 homers, 17 doubles and five triples.
Callis and Mayo note that with slightly above-average speed and arm strength, Raley can handle either corner outfield spot, though he’s also capable of spending some time in center field or at first base as needed. Raley hasn’t walked all the much at the Double-A level (5.4 percent) and has struck out at a 24 percent clip, but he gives the Twins another corner bat with some decent offensive potential to slide into the middle tier of the farm system.
Smeltzer reached Double-A as a 22-year-old and has struggled against older, more experienced competition, posting a 4.73 ERA with 7.2 K/9 against 2.0 BB/9 with a 36.6 percent ground-ball rate at that level this season. He’s been primarily a starter in his pro career after being drafted in the fifth round back in 2016, though he’s worked in relief a bit this season. That’s the role Eric Longenhagen of Fangraphs pegged him for back in 2016 when ranking him 25th among Dodgers farmhands. Smeltzer hasn’t appeared on Dodgers rankings since that time, but he’s displayed excellent control as a pro, averaging fewer than two walks per nine innings pitched while also showing an aptitude for missing bats prior to this year’s more average marks in that regard.
Nice… Maybe Logan goes with prospects?
Right on the nose.
He does. We get Dozier, wipe our hand of Logan’s contract and all we have to give up is two 45 FV Double A players, sounds too good to be true. We’re gonna be affected by a Rule 5 crunch at the end of the year anyway, I like this deal so far.
I would rather have two more months of Brian Dozier then garbage Logan Forsythe and 2 garbage prospects that are never going to sniff the majors. Not even saving a salary here because Logan Forsythe makes 9 million dollars a year to not hit or play good defense. Hopefully one of these prospects will hit out of all these prospects the twins brought back between all the trades made over the last couple days.
Human beings are never “garbage”.
“HOT” Garbage!!!
Jim…i agree with you. It bugs me when posters refer to players as “garbage” “trash” etc etc…afterall, the players these posters are calling garbage have reached the pinnacle of professional baseball. Even the worst ever player to play ML baseball is better than millions of players that didnt play at that level.
I’ll step off my soapbox now.
See my comments that I made blow about maybe taking things too seriously. With that said I think part of the entertainment factor is looking at this as a game because let’s be honest here these are grown adults playing the kids game and getting paid huge amounts of money to do that. But I do agree with your comments as I’ve never came close to playing baseball on a professional level…
Then you’ll love this—grow a pair!
You guys should hug now
Ew! Please don’t!
and by all accounts, Logan Forsythe is a decent human being. He just wasn’t very good with the Dodgers.
In fairness, I don’t think anyone thinks he means that they are human garbage, just garbage as prospects
I think he means that that they are literally a pile of rotting apple cores, dirty diapers, and bits of broken glass. And I don’t disagree.
Dozier wasn’t ever going to be part of the Twins’ plan moving forward. And keeping him past til seasons end would most likely netted nothing in return for him. The chances off them making playoffs this year are very slim if not near impossible. If they kept him they could either have offered him a QO or let him walk. There is no way they wanted to take a chance on an $18mm offer because he’d likely accept it and if they just let him walk they get nothing. So this was absolutely the right move. Some could say it should have been done last offseason but the hopes of a better year were rightfully high. It is what it is. At least they got a couple of pieces back that are farther advanced than a sandwich pick.
Sadly enough all yhe trades were the “right moves”. That doesn’t mean I have to like it as a fan though;) We haven’t seen a fire sale like this around these parts in a long time, soooooooo… my brain is still computing.
Yes it’s been awhile. Getting swept in KC likely nailed the coffin. They got 11 players back that should strengthen the core down the road vs none if they hung on to them till end of year. Tough to see fan favs go though
Some players cant play in big market teams they thrive on small market teams like the rays. Cant handle the bs media of these teams, not always their fault
Can he pitch out of the bullpen?
Sure, but not as well as Kiké Hernandez.
Maybe I’m taking it a little too seriously it is just a game after all. It’s tough to sit through all out fire sale when we just made the playoffs last year and had a slight outside chance to make it this year but more than likely we’re not going to win the division and that was the only way in…
Selling hope since 2010!!! ( inaugural season of Target Field)
No but axford can
Best 2B on the block. Always heats up in 2nd. good trade for the Dodgers, though he won’t be cheap, Dozier’s value is (still) probably at an all-time- low, which makes sense to trade for, any team with hole at 2B.
And let’s face it we need a 2nd basemen. We have all year. Forsyth just ain’t doin it. Utley is good but doesn’t have the range or youth.
What are they gonna do with Taylor when Turner comes back?
There’s always a place to play. Worst case scenario, they get more days to rest and stay fresh and we extend our bench with better pinch hitters.
Only 18 months later it goes down!
And the rich keep getting richer
magic johnson and his nba dream team mentality in the mlb.
As much as I find the dodgers to be an overrated team you can’t blame them for making deals to make their team good.
Unlike others they are putting effort to make them good while still keeping young players.
Nice of you to say but”overrated ?” Really.
Because they can afford to trade for good players unlike the other half of the mlb
Gotta be the front end of something else.
Should’ve just gotten him in the first place instead of Forsythe. Could’ve saved some prospects
Dozier has never been a free agent.
They sent Deleon and he’s been a disaster.
Not really. The Twins wanted a haul last year. Im sure if you add the value of the prospects from the two real deals and compared to what Min wanted last year, the “real” damage would be less.
Saved prospects?! Minnesota wanted Bellinger and DeLeon back then for Dozier.
Can’t expect much return as the Dodgers seem to be the only market for second basemen now.
maybe but the same could also be true in reverse, only other reliable 2B is schoop.
2 seasons later ….
Bye bye Utley
Um….no.
Bye bye Forsythe
Yes and thank GOD for small favors
He’s retiring – he made that announcement a while ago.
There is NO way Utley gets released. The organization reveres him.
Actually, no.
Damn I wonder if still takes Bellinger to get him :/
Bellinger to get Dozier… get outa here
Lmao, still makes me laugh that’s what they were asking for last year
Big upgrade for 2b
A year too late…
LOL. Last year Dozier had great trade value and the Twins wanted Bellinger. 1+ season of Dozier for Bellinger. Or 2+ months of Dozier for Forsythe…hmm……
What the hell!? I love this guys and have wanted him for years now but I’m so confused by this trade! We need pitching! I hope we keep him next year though. Him and Machado or him or Machado need to be brought back next year. I’m confused by this move, didn’t see it coming but I do love it. Just really worried about pitching.
Because their 2nd base production has been awful. Its not that hard man
Relax, homie. We good.
Good move. Turner is always hurt and Forsythe is awful.
Another guy I thought would be perfect for the Brewers, but nahhhh, they’d rather try Shaw there and pick up a duplicate piece in Moose. I wonder if Stearns is actually on Theo’s payroll.
Forsythe and verdugo lol
Don’t get your downvote panties in a twist it was a joke. And I wasn’t actually event expecting forsythe to come back. But logically the other players should have been better than what they got with taking on a garbage player
How many times am I gonna slip and say, “Dodger went to the Doziers”?
start drinking early huh?
Following your good example, Mr. Met.
Two minor prospects AND they took on Forsythe’s salary? Ugh.
Imagine what they could’ve gotten for Dozier a year ago
Well they probably wouldn’t have made the playoffs either. Sure they lost, but they at least had a chance.
Twins FLEECED. Why take on forsythe if the prospects are trash, what the hell
Swapped salary on this deal, Dozier not exactly raking this year, still has some power but horrible batting average and OBP. . Raley is top 20 prospect in LA System. Got something for him at least.
So Forsythe and two middling prospects it is.
It would be funny if Luke Raley is related to Brooks Raley
George Carlin you ain’t.
Poor Dodgers, lol. You can’t win a World Series with no pitching! Bahaha!!
3rd best era in the mlb
Must be a bad year for pitching then Bahahaha!! Cause they suck with pitching!
Anything is better than Forsythe but do we really need another power hitter? I would prefer a hitter with a .280 ba or higher who can steal bases. Our lineup is too one dimensional and when we aren’t hitting home runs. We aren’t scoring runs.
I like this user name.
A high BA/OBP 2B with speed isn’t exactly easy to come by. They’ve upgraded, that’s the important part.
I want a 50HR threat and the Kershaw that had a 300k season – doesn’t mean we’ll get it.
We are still going to miss Brian Dozier in twins country. He was a fan favorite and I’m sure he will help the Dodgers out as far as being an upgrade at that position. Good luck to the Dodgers I hope they win the whole thing…
Dozier is an upgrade over Forsythe but that isn’t saying much. His OBP sure isn’t anything to write home about this year. The Dodgers have to be hoping he will bounce back to something closer to last year’s form. The fact that the two salaries are a wash tells me no other shoes are going to drop and the Dodgers are done adding having taken a pass on the real needs in the bullpen.
Dodgers maybe could have gone after Schoop, glove power bat, Mannys best friend………
Dodgers would have to give up a lot more to get Schoop since he’s not a rental.
What a disaster that Logan Forsythe trade was for the Dodgers
Oh, because de Leon has been so good?
Hey look, this dude is better then utley, but I see an ailing pitching staff. Should’ve put that money on pitching. I just don’t see a World Series team with this move! Nope, better hope for that 1988 miracle! Bahahaha
The Twins got nothing even decent in return. Good steal for the Dodgers.
I would rather have two more months of Brian Dozier then garbage Logan Forsythe and 2 garbage prospects that are never going to sniff the majors. Not even saving a salary here because Logan Forsythe makes 9 million dollars a year to not hit or play good defense. Hopefully one of these prospects will hit out of all these prospects the twins brought back in trades made over the last couple days… tbc
Dogs still wont win the WS.
Such an easy comment. You could say it for eight teams and you’ll be right seven times.
Score!
The Bums will heat up Dozier like they heated up Muncy!
WTF? LA still did not adequately address their pen, which will be their downfall.
Didn’t the Dodgers just trade for Forsthye like a season and a half ago? So it WAS a bad trade…Oh you should of heard the Dodgers fans back then. LOL.
So every year they make trades and every year it doesn’t matter much. Don’t think this year will be any different.
How are those Madres looking, troll?
That’s what I thought.
Looking great actually…(licks finger and makes extinguishing sounds as he puts the finger on his but cheek)…just like “you thought”
If the Dodgers win it all theyll win the trade deadline. Huge improvements at 2nd. Machado is likely gone after this season. Win or lose. I can see Dozier re-signing with LA. the Dodgers trade kiké Hernandez for cash and ptbnl.
The Dodgers could well pursue Dozier in the offseason but either way Hernandez isn’t going anywhere and not especially for nothing. He has huge value for the number of positions he can play and play well, and he mashes LHP. Every roster should have a Hernandez on it, but most don’t.
Hernandez is overrated. Most teams have a player like him only they are good.
Nope. Just, no.
Most teams have a guy that can play everywhere but pitcher/catcher and hit 17 HRs?
Did you say hit a .210 average with a .295 obp…yea his name his cory spangenberg lol. Kiki is over rated just like jock pederson, cody bellinger, Chris Taylor etc…
Sure Kike’s AVG and OBP are not anything special, but that .727 OPS, and 1.2 fWAR and 1.3 bWAR are certainly nothing to sneeze at. He offers above-average offensive and defensive value. All that coming from a bench, utility-role player? Any team would love that.
Compare that to your comp player Cory Spangenberg: .624 OPS, 0.0 fWAR, and 0.2 bWAR. Yeah, Kike and Spangenberg sure are one and the same…
Dumb remark.
“If the Dodgers win it all…” lol no you’ll need another rebuild first. If you can’t hold off the Rockies…I mean really?
This move might have improved a team’s WS chances more than any other trade this year.
“You are only as strong as your weakest link.”
Dodgers really shored up their weakest link.