The Dodgers have added to their outfield mix by adding Alex Call in a trade with the Nationals, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand says the Nats will get two pitching prospects in return, and the Washington Post’s Andrew Golden specifies the two pitchers as Eriq Swan and Sean Paul Linan.
Los Angeles dealt James Outman to the Twins earlier today for Brock Stewart, so adding Call essentially fills Outman’s spot in the Dodgers outfield. It’s not a perfect match since Call is a right-handed hitter and Outman is left-handed, though between lefty-swinging Michael Conforto and switch-hitting Tommy Edman, the Dodgers still have plenty of balance in their outfield.
Call has two minor league options remaining, so L.A. has some roster flexibility if the team decides to move Call to Triple-A. Call is also set to reach arbitration for the first time this winter, as he will almost surely qualify for Super Two status. He’ll be in line for some higher paydays through four arb years rather than the usual three, and the Dodgers control him through the 2029 season.
A veteran of four MLB seasons, the 30-year-old Call can play all three outfield positions but is probably best suited to corner outfield work. He is hitting .274/.371/.386 over 237 plate appearances this season, and has performed better in a part-time capacity than he did when in a more regular role in 2023. As expected, Call has performed better against left-handed pitching than against righties in his career, with a .263/.346/.405 slash against southpaws.
To obtain a controllable outfielder, the Dodgers had to give up two pitching prospects. MLB Pipeline had Swan 16th and Linan 20th in their ranking of the L.A. farm system, while Baseball America put Linan 19th and Swan 24th. Linan was an international signing in 2022, and Swan was a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft.
Swan has a high-90s fastball that can top 100mph on occasion, and Pipeline’s scouting report praises his easy delivery of the pitch. His control is still a work in progress, as indicated by his 46 walks over 69 innings at high-A Great Lakes this season. Swan’s slider and sweeper both receive 60 grades from Baseball America, so the stuff is clearly there is Swan can polish his repertoire and harness his control. It’s a high-upside addition for the Nationals, and Swan perhaps has a good future as a reliever if he doesn’t make it as a starting pitcher.
Linan’s bread-and-butter is an outstanding changeup, and his ability to develop his fastball and slider will determine how well he advances up the ladder. He has looked dominant in the lower minors, though a temporary two-outing stint in Triple-A this season didn’t go well. Linan has worked mostly as a starter this season, but could be best suited for relief work if he can’t develop at least a decent secondary pitch.
Ring ring, phone’s been on and off the hook all day. Dodgers answer the Call.
😆smart comment. Well thought out
It really was.
I do weddings and funerals.
Last Call.
I’ll call you.
Where are you funnier?
Good call
Padres front office line 9,
Please hold!
Give us the ring now. Riding Conforto straight to the grave.
Conforto is one of the few that’s hitting well right now
Yeah, he’s been really good for about a month now.
I see Call as weak side platoon to Conforto in LF, and 4th OF overall. Good defense/range and hopefully can get on base. That’s about it.
Call will be platooning with Conforto. He’s a big upgrade with the bat over Esteury Ruiz and even Keekay Hernandez (when he’s healthy).
Yeah, I guess his OPS vs LH is above 0.800 this year. His peripherals not too different to Kwan this year. Obviously not as good, but not as expensive of an acquisition. And on the right side to platoon with Conforto.
Hitting 75 points higher than Conforto. Call makes contact, decent speed, good fielder, does things well but little power.
They’re awake!
Out goes Outman, followed by a call to bring in Alex…
Derrick May?
Called it
Sneaky good pickup, like Edman was last year
Alex call a great young player. Will be curious to see who gets traded. Rushing? Freeland?
rushing lmao? stick to stankees ball
I wasn’t serious. Was just joking. I know what I’m talking about
I’ve been yanked
Ok Kid.
He’s 30
Traded to the Dodgers is the most exciting thing that has ever happened to him in baseball. Wishing him well, as all Nats fans will.
Neither Rushing nor Freeland are getting traded.
Everybody took your bait, well done.
Yeah I know😅
LOL Rushing or Freeland for Alex Call basically a 4th OF?? As a Nats fan I’ll personally drive 3,000 miles across the country to pick Rushing or Freeland up myself
I’ll buy your gasoline.
Rushing, Freeland, maybe Ohtani. And another piece.
Neither one will be traded. Traded to whom?
I love this move. Alex Call is a really nice depth piece.
Noooo. Call was one of my fav nats. One of the few that would actually take a walk
I will miss him but I am glad he’s on a playoff team.
The nationals supposedly have too many outfielders. Outside of wood now that call is gone, can even one of them hit? Hassell, lile, crews and young have shown very little.
He should’ve played more. Neither Young (who should be in the minors learning how to hit) nor the other youngsters were really producing.
This is a really nice addition to that lineup.
He’s an upgrade over Outman, who they just gave up.
Yep. Basically Outman for Call. Overall, a modest upgrade.
Call is a real ballplayer, a spark, a good teamate, a pro. We did not have a lot of these kind of player in DC
You got THAT right!
Another one bites the dust while others nap.
感覺道奇接下會被教士拉下龍頭
I’m sure he’ll benefit from all the juiced balls LA gets. Same with “Tommy Edman” last year.
Someone needs their balls juiced
Uh, don’t we all?
Hey, the neon clown is back.
Last call!
Kwan for Conforto and some Ohtani bobbleheads….lets go Freidman
Why would I care about if the Yankees are good or not? We just beat them in the WS lol
I did, it’s called I paid for a portion of their salary.
Oh please. Fans always say “we.” Example:”We really hate chronic whiners.”
Why are the Nationals especially doing business with these sleazy greedy pig bullies? Ruiz and Gray haven’t worked out that great. I’m so sick of it. LA already bought half the league and other teams basically have to adopt the same strategy because the idea of building a team the old school way doesn’t exist in this capitalist BS MLB.
I hate the dodgers too.
They literally TRADED for him. Name 1 team that didn’t have the trade capital for a 4th outfielder
Dodgers average 50,000 a night, Nats half that. Get your numbers up. Then maybe you can sign Woods and Gore instead of just one of them. Stop pointing the finger.
*yawn*
Hey Mickey is back. He is using his pseudonym “Steverman.” Really had us fooled.
Conforto DFA incoming….
道奇不願意用農場新秀換人,感覺沒什麼補強到,看來教士真的有機會追過道奇
Dodgers had 0 position players not on either the 40 player roster or the IL. They needed someone
Call is right-handed. He’ll platoon with Conforto and can backup in CF occasionally. Not a game changer, but a useful player.
Let’s see who goes for him
Deadline close to closing. Last Call.
Righty bat to platoon with Conforto in LF. Dodgers could still get Kwan but it’s looking like he’s staying put in Cleveland
Call has a much lower ceiling than Outman, but is a much better player at this moment.
Man,I hope this ain’t last call for trades cos I might just start drinking again.I thought a terminator for the pen woulda happened by now.Price is too steep for Kwan and pens win titles now.Not over yet tho.Cmon AF!!!
Well another trade and a few more non-prospects. I guess rolling the dice is better than nothing but not much.
Nats, seriously you got some legitimate talent in these two kids. I hope they do well for your team.
From what I can see in the data and the pretty sophisticated comments on this post from people who know him, it appears that Call is a guy the Dodgers could use. I’m hopeful that this trade can be a win-win. 🤞🤞