Dodgers acquire Logan Forsythe from Rays for pitcher Jose De Leon

The Los Angeles Dodgers today filled a position of need in their infield, acquiring Logan Forsythe from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for talented right-handed pitching prospect José De León.  Forsythe is expected to start at second base for the Dodgers.

Forsythe, 30, has some pop in his bat, as he combined to slug 57 doubles, 37 homers, and drive in 120 runs in 280 games with Tampa Bay over the past two seasons.  Last season, he hit .264 with 52 RBI, and set career-best marks with 20 home runs, four triples, and 76 runs scored as the Rays’ primary leadoff hitter in 127 games.

In 2015, batting in the middle of the Rays’ lineup, Forsythe led Tampa Bay qualifiers in batting average (.281), on-base percentage (.359) and slugging percentage (.444), while posting a .299/.373/.599 slashline against left-handers. His slugging percentage against lefties (.599) ranked third in the American League in 2015, behind only Nelson Cruz (.673) and Josh Donaldson (.632).

Forsythe has a .255 career batting average with 55 homers and 203 RBI in 618 games in six big-league seasons with the Padres (2011-13) and Rays (2014-16).

This is the type of move the Dodgers win-now fanbase has been requesting in recent seasons -- deal away a prospect or two for a veteran player who can help them win a championship.

Make no mistake, De Leon certainly is a talented prospect.

De León, who was rated as the Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect by Baseball America, went 2-0 with a 6.35 ERA in four starts in his first big-league action in 2016. The 24-year-old native of Puerto Rico went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City last year, and has posted a 23-13 career record with a 3.35 ERA in 67 games (64 starts) in four minor league seasons in the Los Angeles organization after being selected in the 24th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft out of Southern University.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services