Dodgers acquire Brian Dozier in trade

After recently trading for star shortstop Manny Machado, the Los Angeles Dodgers made another big midseason addition to their roster, acquiring second baseman Brian Dozier from the Minnesota Twins in exchange for infielder Logan Forsythe and minor leaguers Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer.

Dozier, 31, appeared in 104 games with the Twins this season batting .224 with 21 doubles, 16 home runs, and 52 RBI.  He adds another powerful bat to the Dodgers' lineup, and provides a reliable glove in the infield.

An All-Star in 2015 and a Gold Glove winner at second base in 2017, Dozier has a .248 career batting average with 202 doubles, 167 home runs and 491 RBI along with a .772 OPS in 955 games over his seven big league seasons with the Twins.  He has also led the Twins in home runs in each of the last five seasons (18 in 2013, 23 in '14, 28 in '15, 42 in '16, and 34 in '17).

By dealing Forsythe, 31, the Dodgers rid themselves of a player who has failed to meet expectations since arriving in Los Angeles two years ago.  He appeared in 70 games with the Dodgers this season, batting .207 with 10 doubles, two home runs and 13 RBI. Over two seasons with Los Angeles, he has hit .218 with eight home runs and 49 RBI along with a .325 on-base percentage in 189 games.

Smeltzer, 22, appeared in 23 games (14 starts) for Double-A Tulsa this season, going 5-5 with 4.73 ERA (44 ER/83.2 IP) and striking out 67 batters against just 19 walks. The Voorhees, New Jersey native was named a 2018 Texas League mid-season All-Star this year with the Drillers.

Raley, 23, has slashed .275/.345/.477 with 17 doubles, 17 home runs and 53 RBI in 92 games with Double-A Tulsa this season.

In addition, the Dodgers also bolstered their bullpen, acquiring veteran right-handed pitcher John Axford from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for minor league right-hander Corey Copping.

Axford, 35, appeared in 45 games (one start) for the Blue Jays this season, going 4-1 with a 4.41 ERA (25 ER/51.0 IP) and has held hitters to a .234 average.  He has been strong against left-handed hitters this season, limiting the opposition to a .147 average (10-for-68). The right-handed reliever has pitched well this past month, going 3-0 with a 3.86 ERA (6 ER/14.0 IP), while limiting hitters to a .200 average.

Over 10 big league seasons, Axford has gone 38-34 with 144 saves and has posted a 3.78 ERA in 538 career games (one start) with the Brewers (2009-13), Cardinals (2013), Indians (2014), Pirates (2014), Rockies (2015), Athletics (2016-17) and Blue Jays (2018). He has struck out a career 585 batters over 521.2 innings, posting a 10.09 strikeouts per nine innings, and has held hitters to a .241 career average, including a .230 mark against lefties. Axford also is tied for the 11th most saves in the big leagues among active relievers.

Copping, 24, has posted a 4-0 record with three saves and has posted a 2.52 ERA (15 ER/53.2 IP) in 35 combined games with Triple-A Oklahoma City and Double-A Tulsa this season. He combined to limit hitters to a .224 average and struck out 59 batters against 26 walks.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services